Two thirds of Hertsmere residents who signed up to a unique healthy lifestyle management programme launched by Hertsmere Leisure have lost weight.

A free healthy lifestyle management programme funded by Hertsmere Together has produced startling results with 65 per cent of participants losing weight and more than that 150 people on the waiting list to take part.

Hertsmere Leisure launched Health4Life in November 2010, offering the community of Borehamwood a lifestyle intervention programme. Funded by Hertsmere Together Performance Reward Grant, the 12 week programme introduced adults to a number of lifestyle management practices to improve their overall health and well being. These included increased physical activity, healthy diet, stress management, working habits and smoking cessation.

This year two further programmes have been run in both Potters Bar and Bushey, bringing the total participants to 56 of which 65 per cent saw improved weight loss. Hertsmere Leisure currently has over 150 people on a waiting list who are interested in taking part and in May 2012 further programmes are to take place in all three areas.

Tom Smith, a health and fitness expert, who runs the courses, said: "We have seen amazing results in Hertsmere with a fantastic 65 per cent of people seeing improved weight loss. With a huge waiting list, this has certainly been a very popular programme and is directly helping the people of Borehamwood, Potters Bar and Bushey change their lifestyle and become fitter and healthier."

Participants are taught skills in healthy eating, weight management and given advice on motivation and keeping on track. They have a one-to-one session with a lifestyle consultant, try different free activities at their leisure centre and everyone who completes the programme received one month's free membership of Beaumonts Health Club.The programme uses ProHealthClinical, a computer programme used in primary care that provides patients with a wide range of personalised information and resources. Personalised sessions cover a range of lifestyle topics such as encouraging healthy eating, promoting physical activity, identifying habits, goal setting, and motivation, overcoming obstacles and keeping on track.

Participant Mike Morris, 47, from Grove Hall Road, Bushey, said: "When I started the programme, I was the heaviest and most unfit I have ever been. In my younger days I was a sporty person but while raising a family I had got out of the habit of doing regular exercise. In 15 weeks I have lost 18lbs and I have completely changed my lifestyle including eating habits and exercise. As my fitness has improved over the weeks I have also started running and can now run for an hour. There must be loads of people out there who like me have got out of the habit of doing regular exercise and put on weight. It is a great feeling to lose weight and get fit again."