A lifestyle change, not a forever diet: one service user’s experience of accessing a local health trainer service

Abstract

Carol Scurr accessed her local health trainer service in Newcastle-upon-Tyne between 2009 and 2011. Here, Carol and Shelina Visram, from Durham University, tell us how she learnt to manage her weight with the help of Choose 2 Lose, a group set up by health trainers in the east end of Newcastle. This group has recently been redesigned and relaunched in the west end of the city and is currently led by the HealthWORKS physical activity team, with health trainer support. My issues with food started from a young age. I’ve lived in Newcastle my whole life, but my mum grew up in Ireland as one of six children. Food was scarce and they would steal from the nearby farmer’s field just so they could live. As a result, the whole family is food obsessed. Even though we didn’t have much money and I was dressed in hand-me-down clothes, we ate like kings and queens. The cupboards were always full and as long as the family were well fed, my mum was happy. She loved to feed people and I’m the same. People always say, “Oh, you’re never short of a meal …