MORE than 300 people have celebrated losing a combined 155 stone in the last year at an awards ceremony.

The seventh annual Lose Weight Feel Great Celebrations was held at the DW Stadium in Wigan which saw a raft of accolades handed out for their slimming achievements.

Inspiring healthy lifestyles organised the event which included motivational stories.

It also featured a catwalk which showed how the Lose Weight Feel Great programmes has benefited residents in the last 12 months.

The programme, which has a number of partners, involved offers people bespoke physical activity sessions alongside eating advice in community environments.

The ceremony was compered by reporter Dave Guest.

Special guests included mayor of Wigan borough Sue Greensmith, who acted as the awards giver and Consort Allen Greensmith.

Professor Kate Ardern, director of Public Health at Wigan Council, delivered the opening speech.

She said: “Lose Weight Feel Great is more than just a weight loss programme.

"It’s about enhancing the self-belief and confidence of all those taking part.

"Everyone here tonight is a winner, everyone has been on their own journey and challenged themselves and the results are fantastic.”

Since Lose Weight Feel Great started in 2009, 27,100 people have accessed the Community Weight Management service delivered by Inspiring healthy lifestyles.

The total weight loss of people accessing the programme since it started stands at a 16,874 stone.

Awards on the night were presented to people attending a range of different Lose Weight Feel Great programmes which included:

• Let’s Get Movin’- the children’s weight management scheme.

• Community Weight Management – a free 12-week programme of physical activity and health eating advice.

• Lose Weight Feel Great FOR MEN - a free 12-week programme of physical activity and health eating advice for men.

• Specialist Weight Management - provided by Aintree NHS to provide tailored support for up to 24 months.

• Healthy Routes Advisors (provided by City Health Care Partnership) - one-to-one support to help residents lose weight and lead a healthier lifestyle.

Pete Burt, Managing Director of Inspiring healthy lifestyles who organised the event, said: “The celebration was not only a fantastic way to recognise the outstanding achievements of the residents in Wigan but to also recognise the hard work of Inspiring healthy lifestyles and our partners to inspire people to choose healthier more active and creative lifestyles.

“This is reflected in the Lose Weight Feel Great FOR MEN scheme with more than 500 men from the borough enrolling in the first four months collectively losing more than 1000kg.

“I hope 2019 has even more successes as we collaborate, innovate and enrich people’s lives in Wigan.”

The catwalk section of the evening played host to 38 models across the weight management teams, strutting their stuff to show off their new figures and new-found confidence.

Some models shared their amazing stories on their weight loss journey and how their programmes changed their lives.

The celebration raised funds for the Mayor’s Charity of the Year, Derian House Children’s Hospice, and Inspiring healthy lifestyles chosen charity, Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Award Winners on the evening were:

Let’s Get Movin’ Changing Lifestyle Award Winners: Florence Richmond, Henrietta Richmond and Lucy Gough

Programme: Men’s Weight Management – Lose Weight Feel Great FOR MEN Winners:

Changing Lifestyle Award: Phil Roberts (13.2kg)

Increased Activity: Lee Bussell (17kg)

Weight Loss Champion: Danny Green (36.1kg)

Team award Lose Weight Feel Great for Men Rugby League Champions, Green Machine

Team Weight Loss Champions- Black Puddings 102kg (Man Vs Fat)

Catwalk winners for Healthy Routes, Community Weight Management and Specialist Weight Management.

Specialist Weight Management winners:

Changing Lifestyle Award, Paul Brennan

Increased Activity Award, Ronald Bell

Weight Loss Champion Award, Paul Brennan

Healthy Routes award winners:

Changing Lifestyle Award winner, Ruth Smith

Weight Loss Champion Winner, Pat Wilson

Increased Activity Award, Euan Novak

Community Weight Management

Changing Lifestyle Award winner, Louise Wilkinson

Weight Loss Champion Winner, Jason Greenough

Increased Activity Award, Louise Wilkinson