What is Weight Matters?

"Weight Matters" is our online weight management programme. This includes a series of groups and other resources relating to issues including weight, body image and healthy management of diabetes and weight; and wellbeing and mental health.

The programes includes:

• Online weight management groups for people with type 2 diabetes - we have completed our 3 pilot groups and plan to call for a new series of groups later in 2010 - stay tuned for more on this
• Online weight management groups for people with type 1 diabetes - pilot has been completed and we plan a second group later in 2010 - stay tuned. In partnership with Novo Nordisk - see our "Type 1 Weight Matters" pages.
• Casual peer chat sessions around weight matters - Wednesday nights at 7.30 pm EST - please check local times. No counsellor or formal programme. All welcome! Moderated by Christina who has been through our type 2 weight matters groups programme.
  
• Weight matters buddies programme - part of the group programmes
• Fact sheets about weight management, diabetes, wellbeing, mental health, diet and exercise - some are available here now
• Access to a dietitan online - part of our online groups. We are working on this as part of the general website - stay tuned!
• Our Food Matters pages
• Access to counselling - available now - go to the online counselling area Diabetes Counselling - Online Diabetes Counselling
  
• Our "Online Cooking School" - available now

History of the programme

In 2007 we held a survey to find out your thoughts, wishes, needs and problems with weight, food and everything connected to these things – in other words your “weight matters” and what matters to you. 78 people completed this survey. This formed the background to the development of our Weight Matters group programmes.

Some of the results were:

• Forty- nine percent of respondents felt that diabetes made is harder to loose weight.
• More than 90% reported attempting to loose weight and of those people, more than 80% reported using exercise and diet as weight loss strategies
• 39% reported using a diet programme with support such as Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or Tony Ferguson but 58% of these people reported not being able to stick with the programme for the long term.
• 72% reported having a family member who is over weight.
• 69% reported binge eating and the most common triggers for bingeing were: feelings about self, mood, depression and stress
• More than 80% of people reported eating take away food only once a week or less
• 58% reported needing more support to lose weight

Who can join?

Currently, we have completed our pilot groups for both type 1 and type 2t - we hope to run some more groups later in 2010 - we will keep you informed here.

You can now register interest to go on the waiting list for future groups later in 2010 for both type 1 and type 2. Just email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to join the list

These programmes are not diet or exercise programmes, but rather support programmes to help you to learn more, identify problems and barriers to healthy weight management, help you to stick at managing your weight in the long run and increase your wellbeing. The focus is on weight management, mental health and wellbeing.

However we do have access to a dietitian and an exercise physiologist and we are currently working out the best way of using them to your advantage. More to come....

What happens next?

Once you contact us, if you are suitable to join the programmes, we will ask you some questions and get you to fill out an enrolment form prior to starting the programme and we will send an enrolment/resources pack. We will include things like questions about your eating habits; exercise; diabetes management; wellbeing; your weight and BMI (body mass index) – we will help you with all of this.

The type 2 programmes are 8 weeks and the type 1 programme is 6 weeks. At the end of the group programmes we will ask you to do these questionnaires again, and again 6 months later. We will also ask you some evaluation questions. Questions will be around:

• What you are doing to manage your weight;
• How confident you feel in managing your diabetes;
• Your wellbeing; and
• How satisfied you were with the programme.

Please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are interested or have any questions.

The programmes include:

• Information pages: This is available here to all members of diabetes counselling online (not just Weight Matters participants) and includes information about nutrition; mental health and wellbeing; exercise and activity; common barriers and facilitators to weight management. See the links to fact sheets below -we will be adding more information soon;
  
• The blog, available to all members of Diabetes Counselling Online, in which Weight Matters participants are encouraged to write entries regarding weight management and their ups and downs, like an online diary - all members can access this area, just register to create an account and you can join in with the chat rooms and blog whether you are in Weight Matters or not;
• An 8 week structured group programme of online group sessions held in a chat room for type 2 and 6 weeks for type 1;
• A weight support buddy programme for recruited participants – you will be matched up with someone else from the group;
• Access to a private chat room at any time to meet;
• You can also use the rest of the site at any time;
• Open group chat for all people is available now on a Wednesday night in the Weight Matters chat room - you will need to register for the chat room to access this and let us know you need access to the Weight Matters rooms Diabetes Counselling Chat

The group programmes are weekly online meetings, at a set time, in the Weight Matters chat room at the website. Topics are around weight management with a focus on mental health and wellbeing, such as the different types of problematic eating; depression; body image; stigma etc. One or two of our counsellors run each session and guide the group, just like in a face to face group.

After the formal groups programme you will be encouraged to keep using the blog, forums, chat rooms and link with your buddy and other group members. We are aiming for the support to be long term, as weight management is long term.

Check in here for updates! If you have any questions contact us on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

FACT SHEETS

DCOFactSheet-DiabetesEatingGuidelines.pdf

DCO Fact Sheet - Carbs and Diabetes

DCO Fact Sheet - Dining Out

DCO Fact Sheet - Facts on Fats

DCO Fact Sheet - Glycemic Index

DCO Fact Sheet - Healthy Eating not Dieting

DCO Fact Sheet - Emotional Eating

DCO Fact Sheet - Motivation and taking the steps

DCO Fact Sheet - Weight Matters useful links

Lift for Life

The Lift For Life program is a progressive weight training program designed for people with or at risk of Type 2 diabetes based on comprehensive research by the International Diabetes Institute proving the positive effects weight training has in managing Type 2 diabetes.

Lift For Life aims to improve diabetes control, decrease body fat, increase strength, and enhance general health and well-being through a structured approach to strength training.

Baker IDI have a unique operating model integrating research, education and clinical care divisions, dedicated to making a difference for people with diabetes and those at risk of all ages and fitness levels.

EFM Health Clubs has been chosen by Baker IDI and Fitness Australia to deliver this program nationally as the EFM culture, environment and personalised Fitness Coaching structure is well suited to deliver this type of program and the Lift For Life program is essentially a weights only program with a Fitness Coach to member ratio of 1:12. Four simple assessments are provided over the 6 month program and EFM offer a free trial session to Lift For Life participants.

Throughout a Lift For Life program, participants can work at their own pace, with plenty of help and encouragement along the way from an EFM coach to help achieve your goals.

EFM offers personal Fitness Coaching at all sessions to provide you with a tailored program to help you manage your diabetes.

Lift For Life members can do a program via one of the LIFT FOR LIFE weights program cards which can be regularly updated. Lift For Life members can also join in regular EFM weights focused sessions if they wish, and if Lift For Life members wish to do extra cardiovascular exercise, they are able to do so as long as they have first completed their resistance training exercises for the session and/or for the week.

At the end of the Lift For Life program Lift For Life members are very welcome to continue with their EFM membership without the Lift For Life assessments and training will still include a significant weights focus for diabetes management.

Lift For Life enquires can be made online at www.efm.net.au or by calling 1300 336 348.

Weight Matters has been made possible through grants from Eli Lily and Mazda Foundation in 2008

And in 2009

Novo Nordisk

And The Ian Potter Foundation

See our type 1 weight matters pages, sponsored by Novo Nordisk, for more information about type 1 diabetes