Healthy weight

Start losing weight

Download the NHS 12-week weight loss plan and start your weight loss journey.

The plan, which has proved very popular online, is designed to help you lose weight safely – and keep it off.

Start the NHS weight loss plan

The keys to success:

  • make realistic changes to your diet and physical activity that can become a part of your regular routine
  • the best way to lose weight is to make long-term changes to diet and physical activity that result in a steady rate of weight loss
  • aim to lose weight at around 0.5kg to 1kg a week (1lb to 2lb), until you achieve a healthy body mass index (BMI)

Below are some helpful tips to start your journey towards a healthy weight. Once you're on the way, there is lots of information and advice provided in the plan.

Lots of us eat and drink more than we realise and do little physical activity. The result is often weight gain.

To lose weight, we need to change our current habits. This means eating less – even when eating a healthy, balanced diet – and getting more active.

Fad diets and exercise regimes that result in rapid weight loss are unlikely to work for long, because these kinds of lifestyle changes cannot be maintained. Once you stop the regime, you're likely to return to old habits and regain weight.

Do today

You can take 6 actions today that will start your journey towards a healthy weight:

  1. Download the NHS weight loss plan.
  2. Check if you're a healthy weight with our BMI healthy weight calculator. If you need to lose a few pounds, you'll be given a daily personal calorie target.
  3. Take the next snack you plan to have and swap it for something healthier. Aim to do the same every day: you've adopted your first weight loss habit.
  4. Drinks, including alcohol, contain calories too, so try to cut down on sugary drinks and get advice about cutting down on alcohol.
  5. Find a way to fit just 1 extra walk into your day. Check out our walking tips.
  6. Try to have breakfast every morning. Get ideas in healthy breakfasts (for people who hate breakfast).

Do this week

There are 3 actions you can take this week:

  • Plan a healthy weekly shop. Check out our 20 tips to eat well for less.
  • Eating out? Read our tips on foods to avoid and healthier options in Healthier takeaways.   
  • If you're already walking more, try adding 1 more activity. For more ideas, see our fitness section.


Page last reviewed: Mon Dec 2019 Next review due: Fri Dec 2022

NHS Attribution