Our impact

10 years of PHC: our impact so far

2026 is our tenth year. This is what has changed for the people we work with, with a source for every number, so you can check it for yourself.

Ten years in numbers

46%
of patients with type 2 diabetes at Dr David Unwin's Norwood practice who chose a lower carbohydrate diet reached drug-free remission
Source: Unwin D and others. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 2020 (opens in a new tab)
1,800+
people enrolled on The Lifestyle Club health coaching courses
Source: The Lifestyle Club, phcuk.org
89%
of people who start a Lifestyle Club course complete it
Source: The Lifestyle Club, phcuk.org
500+
delegates in person at our 2024 London conference, with 200 more watching online
Source: PHC annual report, year to 31 March 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
Silver
for The Lifestyle Club, Primary Care Project of the Year, HSJ Partnership Awards 2024
Source: PHC annual report, year to 31 March 2024 (PDF, opens in a new tab)

How we count

We measure our reach and the outcomes of the people we work with, and we do not claim credit for national trends. Some results come from service evaluations in single practices, without a comparison group, and the sources say so. Where we cannot confirm a figure, we leave it out.

The difference we make

Health outcomes

Real changes in blood sugar, weight and medication for the people we work with.

93%
of patients with prediabetes at the Norwood practice reached a normal HbA1c
Source: Unwin D and others. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 2020 (opens in a new tab)
9.8 mmol/mol
average fall in HbA1c (long-term blood sugar) six months into The Lifestyle Club
Source: PHC annual report, year to 31 March 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
5.9 kg
average weight lost six months into The Lifestyle Club
Source: PHC annual report, year to 31 March 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)

Food addiction

Liberate supports people struggling with ultra-processed food addiction.

46%
of people in the Liberate pilot reported fewer food addiction symptoms
Source: PHC annual report, year to 31 March 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
44%
of people in the Liberate pilot reported less binge eating
Source: PHC annual report, year to 31 March 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)

Savings for the NHS

When people need fewer medicines, the NHS spends less on prescriptions.

£50,885
a year less spent on type 2 diabetes drugs at the Norwood practice than the local average
Source: Unwin D and others. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 2020 (opens in a new tab)
25%
average reduction in medication six months into The Lifestyle Club
Source: PHC annual report, year to 31 March 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)

Education

Conferences, courses and free resources for the public and healthcare professionals.

6.5%
average weight loss on a 10 week Ambassador-led course run on Zoom in primary care
Source: Walker L, Smith N, Delon C. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 2020 (opens in a new tab)
200
people watched our 2024 conference online
Source: PHC annual report, year to 31 March 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)

Community

People supporting each other to eat well and move more.

160+
members of Real Food Runners, our informal parkrun group
Source: PHC annual report, year to 31 March 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
11,000+
parkruns completed by Real Food Runners
Source: PHC annual report, year to 31 March 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)

Why it matters

The national picture

These figures explain why we exist and what we campaign to change. They are not a measure of our work.

14
national obesity strategies in England between 1992 and 2020, and obesity was not reduced
Source: Theis and White, The Milbank Quarterly, 2021 (opens in a new tab)
689
separate policies across those strategies
Source: Theis and White, The Milbank Quarterly, 2021 (opens in a new tab)

See the seven changes we campaign for

Help us do more in the next ten years

Donate Back the seven asks