A GROUP of patients at a doctors’ surgery in the New Forest have lost a staggering 100 stone between them in just 12 weeks.

A total of 135 people signed up to the scheme after 1,000 letters were sent out to patients inviting them to be part of a free trial of Weight Watchers workshops.

The surgery carried out a search on its database for patients who had recorded a body mass index of over 30 in the past six months.

Those eligible were then offered the chance to sign up to workshops at lunchtime or during the evening.

West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Hampshire County Council organised the scheme and uptake was so popular the workshops had to be held at the local junior school and community room after Friends of Fordingbridge Surgery agreed to fund the alternative venues.

Practice manager Michelle Raymond said: “We embraced it because we thought it could only be a good thing to help patients lose their weight.”

She said patients had “proved their weight loss has health benefits” and reported a reduction in medication use, reduced blood pressure readings, reduced aches and pains as well as improved mobility.

John Theobold, 76, was one of those who took part and so far he has lost one stone 7lbs. Before starting the programme, John was using 48 units of insulin for his type 2 diabetes and after 12 weeks this had reduced to just 8 units a day.

Ms Raymond said: “We’re trying to encourage patients to be fit and healthy and in terms of social isolation.”

The surgery is also affiliated with the popular Parkrun initiative and also holds art therapy sessions.

It is hoped a second phase of the workshops will take place following its initial success.

Charlene Prentice, Weight Watchers coach, said: “Bringing Weight Watchers to Fordingbridge Surgery patients has been a great experience to be part of, supporting the members on their wellness journey has been personally very rewarding, seeing the members develop healthy habits in all three pillars of Weight Watchers, food, mind-set and activity.”

Charlene said she is now supporting other surgery patients in Ringwood and Lyndhurst with Weight Watchers workshops.