Lighterlife

LighterLife is a weight-loss and weight management programme for people who are clinically obese, equivalent to three stone or more overweight and with a body mass index greater than 29. The company was started in 1996 by Bar Hewlett, Sally Rettig and Jackie Cox.

LighterLife follows the model of modern VLCDs, which have been used by 20 million people in 30 countries over 20 years.

Overview
The programme employs a three-pronged approach to weight loss which includes:

1. A VLCD, very low calorie diet. Replacement of food with nutritionally complete soups, shakes and bars used on a medically-monitored programme, with health checks every 28 days.

2. Motivation, counselling and support in groups led by a counsellor.

3. The use of cognitive behavioural therapy techniques and transactional analysis techniques to enable clients to identify why they overeat and to therefore work out effective solutions and behavioural modifications that will enable them to manage their weight more effectively in the long term.

LighterLife is a member of the British Nutrition Foundation and the Royal Society of Medicine. The company is also an organisational member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and is bound by BACP's ethical framework.