With childhood obesity remaining one of the UK’s most significant public health challenges, we know that early, preventative support plays a vital role in shaping lifelong healthy behaviours whilst reducing future demand on NHS services.
Through delivery of our healthy lifestyle programme, Beezee Families, on behalf of Brent Council, we work alongside families facing complex social and environmental pressures, providing structured, evidence-based lifestyle support that drives sustainable behaviour change and improves health outcomes at a community level.
In Brent, one of London’s most diverse boroughs, tackling health inequalities is central to improving long-term outcomes for children and young people.
Shona Okeke-Jackowski, Senior Public Health Strategist at Brent Council, highlights the importance of ensuring support reaches every part of the community: “Our goal in public health is to reduce health inequalities and ensure every family has access to the support they need, regardless of their background or circumstances. Prevention is central to that, giving families the knowledge, confidence and practical tools to make healthier choices long before issues escalate.”
Early referral, timely support
This commitment to prevention comes to life through the experiences of families like Aksana and her daughter Amelia. When Aksana raised concerns with their social worker and Amelia’s school about her teenage daughter’s weight, wellbeing and daily routine, the school and support teams referred the family to Beezee Families, a free 12‑week healthy lifestyle programme delivered in weekly, face‑to‑face group sessions.
Living in limited space with shared sleeping arrangements created additional pressures for the family of four, particularly for Amelia. Struggling to sleep, Amelia would frequently snack late at night and consume sugary drinks which began to affect her weight and energy levels.
Through the programme, Aksana and Amelia developed a stronger understanding of nutrition, portion control, calorie awareness and food labelling. Just as importantly. They also learned practical strategies to reduce sugar intake and establish healthier daily routines that could be sustained at home.
Natalia Ruczynska, Nutritionist at Beezee Families, explains that sessions are deliberately structured to build practical skills week by week: “Each week we cover a different topic – breakfast, portion sizes, takeaways, label reading and core healthy eating principles, so families can practise real-world skills straight away. By building these habits gradually, families start to feel more confident making informed choices, whether they’re shopping, cooking or planning their day.”
The power of a whole-family approach
As they settled into the programme, the structure of the sessions and the group environment became key to helping both mother and daughter stay motivated.
The group-based delivery model proved especially valuable for Amelia as she connected with her peers in a similar situation, helping to reduce feelings of isolation and create a supportive environment. Having her mother participate alongside her strengthened accountability and reinforced consistent messaging at home.
For Amelia, the sessions quickly became a place where she felt comfortable, supported and able to learn alongside others: “I really enjoyed the sessions. It’s helped to meet other people and hear how they are making changes. Doing the activities with others also made it less awkward. I learnt how to eat and be healthier. I’m also glad my mum was there with me because if I didn’t understand something I could ask her, and we learnt together what we should be doing. It was great.”
Her mother’s experience echoed this sense of connection and shared learning.
Aksana found that the sense of community quickly became one of the most valuable parts of the programme: “It was really nice because we met other families and swapped recipes, talked about activities and even shared things like holidays and trips. We became like family friends. We still keep in touch through a WhatsApp group where we share healthy breakfast ideas and positive activities, and that support has been really helpful for us.”
This kind of sustained change is exactly what early intervention aims to achieve.
Sharon Scott, Regional Operations Manager at Maximus, reflects on how the programme creates a supportive community around families: “A real sense of community develops in the sessions. Families support one another, and those relationships often continue long after the programme finishes. The Academy by Maximus helps families carry that community spirit into everyday life. The behaviour‑science‑informed platform offers healthy recipes, videos and practical guidance in one place, providing accessible, flexible support that fits around busy family lives and helps sustain healthier habits long term.”
Sustainable outcomes for families
The impact of this support extended well beyond the 12-week programme. At home, healthier routines gradually became embedded – including reduced snacking, fewer sugary drinks and increased physical activity. Amelia began to lose weight steadily and continues to apply the knowledge and habits developed during the programme.
Reflecting on how the programme helped her to shift from automatic habits to more conscious, healthier choices, Amelia explains: “I learnt to eat more healthily and not just grab whatever. Now I stop and think before I take something, and I eat more fruits and vegetables, so I don’t get hungry and snack later. Even after the programme, the habits stick with you, and you can keep being healthy.”
Meanwhile, Aksana has observed meaningful and sustained change in her daughter: “Amelia’s routine has improved. When I cook, she eats her meals and doesn’t snack. We enjoy walking and do this as a family together. The support and help we received through the programme has exceeded all our expectations.”
Building healthier futures through prevention
Amelia’s progress reflects the wider value of early, targeted intervention in building lasting healthy habits.
By embedding practical skills and supporting children at a formative stage, programmes such as Beezee Families contribute not only to immediate wellbeing improvements but to healthier futures for families, communities and the wider health system.
Amelia’s journey shows how confidence builds through early intervention and helps families sustain change, a message echoed by Senior Public Health Strategist, Shona: “What programmes like Beezee Families show us is that when families feel supported and empowered, those small everyday decisions build into lifelong habits. Good health is built through everyday choices, and programmes like this help families feel confident making those choices long after the sessions end.”
