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Yunus hadn’t slept properly in 30 years. His GP referral changed that.
Xyla’s NHS Digital Weight Management Programme is a free 12-week service for people living with obesity alongside diabetes or high blood pressure. Here’s what it looked like for Yunus.
Yunus wasn’t sure the programme would do much. He had a desk-based job, barely any physical activity and health markers he knew were heading the wrong way. He’d also not slept a full night in around 30 years. He signed up anyway and twelve weeks later, he describes it as one of the best decisions he’s made for his health.
Life before the programme
Exercise had largely disappeared from Yunus’s routine. A sedentary working day made it easy to let things slide and returning to the gym carried a real emotional barrier. His close friend, who he used to train with, had died the year before and going back to that environment without him was something Yunus wasn’t ready for.
His diet was also a concern. Biscuits and fizzy drinks had become a daily habit and while he knew certain foods were affecting his health, changing long-established patterns is rarely straightforward. He joined the programme unsure whether anything would change.
Twelve weeks of support that went further than he expected
Working with a coach who listened
Yunus worked with his coach Gabi throughout the programme, describing her as easy to talk to, knowledgeable and attentive to his progress.
Each call was structured but flexible, with room to discuss what was genuinely getting in the way rather than moving through a fixed agenda.
Rebuilding his relationship with food
With Gabi’s guidance, Yunus developed a clearer understanding of his dietary needs than he’d had before. Not a rigid set of rules, but a practical grasp of what his body needed and why certain changes would make a difference. He adjusted what he was eating, changed his meal timings and reduced the foods that had been most affecting his health. He rejoined the gym and began walking four times a week, neither of which had featured in his routine before.
Decades of bad sleep ended
His sleep difficulties came up in the very first coaching call. Yunus had managed no more than three to five hours a night for decades and had tried magnesium supplements previously, stopping after a few days due to side effects. Gabi was aware that different forms of magnesium carry different tolerability profiles and directed him towards one that was unlikely to cause the same problems. He began taking it and, for the first time in roughly 30 years, started sleeping through the night.
“It has transformed my life. […] My energy levels are unbelievable.”
What Yunus’s results looked like
Two inches lost off his waist
Sleeping a full night for the first time in approximately 30 years
Fatty liver completely resolved
Back at the gym and walking four times a week
HbA1c levels improving
More energy, more confidence, better health overall
He had joined the programme sceptical and left with his health meaningfully changed and a routine he has maintained since. For anyone considering something similar, his view is clear: “I was quite sceptical before joining, but after seeing the positive changes in my health and the knowledge I’ve gained, I can honestly say it’s been more than worth it. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain.”
“I genuinely feel like a different person […] Both physically and mentally.”
Could you be eligible to make this change?
The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme is free. It’s available to adults who are 18 or over, have a BMI of 30 or above (or 27.5 or above if you’re from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background) and have a diagnosis of diabetes (type 1 or type 2) or high blood pressure.
If that sounds like you, speak to your GP or a local pharmacist. They can check your eligibility and refer you directly.
Learn more about out Digital Adult Weight Management programme
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