Lose Weight, Quit Smoking, Build Healthy Habits for Free in Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes
Choose well – ‘Choose You’: New service launches to help residents quit smoking, lose weight, and build healthy habits
Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, and Milton Keynes City Councils have launched Choose You, a free-to-access service designed to support residents in improving their health and wellbeing. Whether it’s quitting smoking, managing weight, or making lasting lifestyle changes, Choose You offers expert support through self-referral or healthcare professional referrals.
Why Choose You?
In Central Bedfordshire one in ten adults smoke (10.6%). Additionally, 67.5% of adults (over two thirds) in our area are overweight or obese, compared to 64% in England. These figures highlight a clear need for accessible support in making healthier choices. That’s why Choose You in Central Bedfordshire is here – to provide a supportive, inclusive and easily accessible way for residents to take control of their health and make positive changes.
Choose You focuses on helping individuals improve their health by supporting habit changes for smoking cessation and weight management. It offers personalised guidance, group sessions, and self-help tools to suit various lifestyles. The smoking service provides expert advice with a structured plan, while the healthy weight programme offers adults 12 weeks of support for lasting improvements to health. Families can also access one-to-one support for healthy weight management.
Supporting people in achieving their health goals
Whether it’s walking up a hill without stopping for breath, keeping up with children or grandchildren, feeling more confident, hearing from your doctor that your blood pressure is normal, or finally breaking the habit of a morning cigarette, Choose You can help individuals reach their goals in a way that works for them.
Recognising that life’s challenges – such as stress, finances, or family commitments – can impact people’s health journey, Choose You offers flexible, pressure-free support at a comfortable pace, with signposting to additional services when needed.
Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health, Cllr. Mark Smith at Central Bedfordshire Council, said:
“Good health can be the foundation of a fulfilling life, and Choose You is here to help people take that first step towards positive change. Whether it’s stopping smoking, managing weight, or improving overall wellbeing, this free-to-access service offers tailored support to help make goals achievable. We’re proud to be working together across councils to ensure that no one has to make these changes alone.”
Vicky Head, Director of Public Health at Central Bedfordshire Council, said:
“Choose You makes getting support easier. Whether it’s quitting smoking, losing weight, or making other lasting changes, the service offers compassionate and practical support to build healthy habits. Through this innovative partnership between three local authorities, Choose You empowers those who need it most, offering everything from self-help resources to one-on-one coaching and support programmes.”
By choosing you, you are choosing what matters. Make a choice and start your journey today: www.chooseyou.co.uk
