Weight Gain / Obesity: what it is and how we help

Weight gain and obesity at a glance

Around two in three adults in England are above a healthy weight. Weight is shaped by far more than willpower: genetics, sleep, stress, hormones, medications, the food environment and muscle mass all play a part. Sustainable weight loss comes from a plan you can keep, built around protein, strength, activity and routine, and measured by body composition rather than the scales alone.

Why weight matters for health

• Higher risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease
• More load on the knees, hips and back, and more joint pain
• Sleep apnoea, reflux and fatigue
• Hormonal effects, including on fertility and PCOS

How is weight measured?

BMI is a simple starting point, but it cannot tell fat from muscle. Waist measurement and body composition give a clearer picture of health risk, especially visceral fat around the organs.

How is obesity treated?

NICE guidance supports multi-component programmes combining diet, physical activity and behaviour change. For some people, your GP or a specialist service may discuss weight-loss medication or surgery. We do not prescribe weight-loss injections, but we can support people using them to protect muscle and build habits.

How we help with weight in Chiswick

• Fitness and nutrition programme: personal coaching, nutrition guidance and accountability.
• InBody scan: measures fat, muscle and visceral fat so you see real progress.
• Styku 3D scan: tracks changes in shape and waist measurement.
• Blood tests: HbA1c, cholesterol, thyroid and liver markers.
• Pixformance: guided strength training to preserve and build muscle.

What does the evidence say?

Programmes that combine diet, activity and behaviour change produce the best long-term results. Strength training protects muscle during weight loss, which helps keep weight off. Losing five to ten percent of body weight brings meaningful health benefits.

What is a healthy weight?

For most adults, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is classed as healthy, 25 to 29.9 as overweight and 30 or above as obesity. NICE advises lower thresholds for people of South Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean heritage, where health risks rise at a BMI of 23. A waist measurement of less than half your height is another useful guide.

Why is losing weight so hard?

When you lose weight, the body responds by increasing hunger hormones and slightly reducing energy use, which makes regain common. Short sleep, stress, some medications and the easy availability of energy-dense food add to the challenge. This is biology, not a lack of willpower, which is why sustainable plans focus on habits, protein, strength and sleep rather than short, strict diets.

Weight-loss injections and muscle

Medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide can lead to substantial weight loss for eligible people when prescribed by the NHS or a regulated provider. A notable part of the weight lost can be muscle, so strength training and enough protein are important alongside them. We do not prescribe these medicines, but we support people using them.

What to expect at Omnia

We start with an InBody scan, a waist measurement and a conversation about your health, routine, eating patterns and goals, with blood tests if useful. You receive a practical plan built around activity, strength, meals and sleep, with coaching and regular measurements so progress is visible beyond the scales. Anything medical is shared with your GP.

What you can do at home

• Include protein and vegetables at every meal
• Walk daily and strength train twice a week
• Sleep seven to nine hours; short sleep increases appetite
• Track trends over weeks, not daily fluctuations

See our guides to how to speed up your metabolism and whether HRT causes weight gain.

See our guides to lowering blood pressure naturally and reversing insulin resistance.

Visit our weight management hub. Omnia Lifestyle, Chiswick W4, two minutes from Turnham Green. Book online or call 020 4515 0000.