Registered charity Aquaterra has announced that it has won a three year contract with Islington Public Health, part of the London Borough of Islington, to deliver a community-based Adult Weight Management Service.

 Aquaterra's specialist Active Health Team will deliver a series of twelve week "Re:balance" programmes in the first year for up to 550 Islington residents at risk of poor health related to their weight.

 The goal is to help those who are overweight, obese and severely obese to lose 5-10% of their body weight during the programme and retain that weight loss for twelve months afterwards.

 Two courses are starting at the Sobell Leisure Centre and St John's Way Medical Centre in Islington in February with the main programme starting in April 2013 and expanding to venues across the borough.

 The programme will focus on three main topics: behaviour, nutrition and physical activity to help people understand how these affect weight and overall health. One hour lifestyle sessions will take place during the day, evening or weekends and will be followed up by instructor-led exercise sessions.

 The programme will be free to all Islington residents and those registered with an Islington GP. Residents will be able to self-refer or be referred by a health professional.

 Aquaterra Leisure will be delivering the Re:balance programme which has been designed by The Academy of Health Coaching, who specialise in health and wellbeing.

 Antony Kildare, Chief Executive, said: "Rising obesity rates is a UK-wide problem and we are thrilled that Aquaterra's significant experience, expertise and innovation in health projects is going to be at the forefront of delivering substantial improvements to the health and wellbeing of Islington residents in this area."

 Aquaterra's Active Health Team in Islington manage a number of successful initiatives including an innovative cancer survivorship programme, a Phase IV Cardiac Rehabiliation programme, and specialised rehabilitation classes in partnership with The Whittington Health Physiotherapy Team.

 Aquaterra has also announced that five of the Islington leisure centres it manages in partnership with Islington Council have been awarded 'Quest', the leisure industry's leading quality assurance and continuous improvement tool for facility management and sports development.

 The leisure centres which have been accredited with this prestigious award are Archway Leisure Centre, Cally Pool, Highbury Pool and Fitness Centre, Islington Tennis Centre and Sobell Leisure Centre. The leisure centres were assessed between December 2012 and January 2013.

 Antony Kildare said: "This is the first time we have submitted the leisure centres for the award and I'm extremely proud and delighted that they have been successfully accredited, particularly as Quest is designed by and for the industry to help managers enhance and improve the quality of service provided to customers. Our staff are passionate about providing excellent service to our customers and we are continually looking for ways to improve the experience for our users. This award clearly demonstrates our achievements to customers, partners and colleagues."

 Quest is supported by Sport England, Sport Wales, Sport Scotland and Sport Northern Ireland as well as SPORTA (The Sports and Recreation Trust Association), CLOA (The Chief Cultural & Leisure Officers Association) and the new institute CIMSPA (Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity).