UNIVERSITY Hospital Llandough has launched its new service to provide people with a multi-disciplinary approach to losing weight and changing their eating habits.

The service was launched by minister for health and social services, Mark Drakeford.

The Specialist Weight Management Service is an intensive programme, providing support from a nurse, consultant and dietitian as well as an occupational therapist, physiotherapist and psychologist, if needed.

The service is designed to improve long-term health and is for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above (35 and over for people with additional health problems).

Mr Drakeford said: “We know obesity is a complex issue. The team at University Hospital Llandough is taking a holistic approach to help people lose weight, develop healthy eating habits for life and to become more active. I’m pleased to help launch this service and I hope that as it develops the team will share their experiences with others across Wales.”

Recent figures show a fifth of adults in the Vale of Glamorgan are are obese, only slightly below the Welsh average.

Helen Nicholls is the community dietetic clinical lead for Cardiff and Vale Health Board. She said: “We are really pleased be involved in the new service. It has been designed in consultation with patients to ensure it meets their needs.”

The service had a soft launch in September and people are already experiencing the benefits.