How Oviva’s GLP-1 Treatment Programme Got Rebecca Back to Work After 4 Years
Eighteen months ago, Rebecca McDiarmid was trapped in a cycle that contributed to costing the UK £6 billion annually (Department of Health and Social Care). At 48 and weighing 24 stone, the Sheffield resident had gone from caring for others in her job to barely leaving her favourite chair at home, her multiple health conditions making even basic daily activities a struggle. Today, she’s 12kg lighter, back at work, and living proof that the right support can break the devastating cycle of obesity.
Rebecca’s story began during the pandemic when she contracted COVID-19 whilst working in care. “My health conditions started getting worse and worse,” she recalls. “I would have constant heart palpitations. I ended up gaining a lot of weight and eventually I stopped working. I was so depressed.”
At 24 stone with a BMI of 54.6, Rebecca represented the kind of complex case that costs the NHS an estimated £2864 annually per severely obese patient (National Library of Medicine). When Rebecca’s GP recommended Oviva, it represented a shift from reactive to preventive healthcare. Like many people, Rebecca hadn’t heard of Oviva before her doctor mentioned it. Her GP recommended the programme specifically because of her multiple health conditions, including high cholesterol and pre diabetes. “They said this was the best option for me as it wasn’t just about weight loss but also nutrition and mental health,” she explains.
Despite expecting a long wait, Rebecca was accepted within six months, which was quicker than anticipated.
You guys have given me so much information about mental health
Once she began, Rebecca discovered the programme’s comprehensive approach. “You guys have given me so much information about mental health, telling me what I should or shouldn’t be eating, exercises and different diets I can do,” she says enthusiastically.
The programme’s holistic focus meant she wasn’t just losing weight, she was rebuilding her entire relationship with food, exercise, and mental wellbeing. Rebecca describes feeling “really excited” about the programme and says she’d “like to do it all over again if possible.”
After a year and three months on the programme, Rebecca’s transformation extends far beyond the scales.
She’s lost weight dropping from 24 stone to 22 stone and reducing her BMI from 54.6 to 52, with increased muscle mass. But the real changes are in her quality of life.
“I can go to bed upstairs now,” Rebecca shares a simple pleasure many take for granted. “I’m much more sociable, and of course I am eating better on a daily basis.”
Perhaps most significantly, Rebecca has returned to work. “The biggest change though was that I was finally able to start working again this year. I’ve been able to get a new job as a midday supervisor at a local primary school. It’s quite active, I have to stand for all my full shift. Cleaning, tidying up after the kids. There was no way I would have been able to do this sort of job before I lost the weight.”
Weight loss has unlocked activities Rebecca thought were lost forever. She had always loved swimming but “it took a back seat before.” Now she visits the leisure centre before or after work and has even completed a course at her local leisure centre.
“I’ve found the programme really good. It’s been so helpful. I’ve recommended it to so many people,” Rebecca says, though she notes that “it’s not that well known.” The user friendly app makes tracking easy, and the comprehensive support system addresses not just weight but overall health and wellbeing.
Rebecca’s story proves that no matter how difficult circumstances become, transformation is possible. From sleeping downstairs and feeling trapped at home to working actively and swimming regularly, her journey shows what comprehensive support can achieve.
As she puts it: “My life was awful, I didn’t go anywhere. I just sat in a chair and stayed home all the time” but that’s no longer her reality. Rebecca’s transformation demonstrates the life-changing potential of the Oviva programme for those ready to take the first step towards better health.
“The biggest change though was that I was able to start working again.”
Ready to start your journey?
Oviva’s NHS-funded programme is designed to help you lose weight in a way that fits your lifestyle, with expert guidance, digital tools, and personalised coaching. No restrictive diets, just a flexible approach for lasting results.
Eligibility criteria vary depending on where you live in England. You may qualify if:
- You have a BMI of 35+ with a weight-related health condition
- You have a BMI over 40, regardless of health conditions
If you’re eligible, the programme is completely free.
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Success stories -
Success stories -
Success stories