Healthier You is an NHS-backed programme delivered by Xyla that helps people make lasting lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes. It now also supports wider needs including diabetes remission, obesity and long-term conditions.
We spoke to Anna Lycett, one of Xyla’s experienced health coaches. Over the past four years Anna has delivered both the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme supporting participants through face-to-face groups, online sessions and culturally tailored delivery.
Here, Anna shares how cutting through food myths, marketing tricks and mixed messages helps people understand what they’re eating and why it matters.
You’d be surprised how many people feel overwhelmed by food. Not because they don’t care, but because the information around them is so inconsistent. A product with a “healthy” label can still spike glucose. A cereal bar marketed as natural can contain fast-acting carbohydrates. Something plain and unglamorous such as a packet of plain nuts or a boiled egg might actually be the better choice.
When I start a session, I often use a simple flash card activity. I show a range of everyday foods and ask people to rank them according to how much they think each one affects blood glucose. The results are almost always educational, with many surprises for the group participants. That moment of realisation is powerful. People instantly see that the rules they’ve been taught by packaging and advertising don’t match how food affects our bodies.
This isn’t their fault – it’s the outcome of years of confusing messages. Helping people see through that noise is one of the most important parts of what we do.
Most people join the programme thinking sugar alone is the issue. When I explain that all carbohydrates break down into glucose, but some do it faster than others, you can almost feel the shift in the room. Suddenly things click.
I keep it simple. We talk about portion size, fibre and how pairing foods slows glucose release. I use real examples from their day-to-day lives and show how a tiny adjustment can significantly change the impact on their body.
What I teach isn’t about perfection but clarity. These insights can reduce future risk, prevent complications and support people to be confident in the choices they make for themselves and their families.
The plate model is one of my favourite tools because it’s universal: it works across every culture and every budget. Xyla’s Wellbeing Way app, which is used alongside NDPP, includes culturally relevant variations, so people can see meals that look like the ones they cook at home. This makes what I’m talking about relatable.
Healthy eating becomes far less intimidating when it doesn’t ask someone to abandon their identity or traditions. People light up when they realise they can keep their favourite dishes and simply adjust the portions or ingredients.
This is one of the simplest ways to improve engagement and reduce inequalities, especially in culturally diverse communities.
Talking about food without talking about cost isn’t realistic. Many people I meet are worried that healthy eating means expensive ingredients or complicated recipes. I make sure the advice we give is grounded in real life: frozen vegetables, tinned beans, batch cooking, simple swaps, value ranges. I also encourage everyone to contribute their best tips and recipes so that they feel involved and valued, thus creating a supportive learning environment.
When people realise prevention doesn’t rely on premium products, they relax and feel capable of taking action. This is important not just for individuals but for the NHS too. Health advice that’s financially accessible leads to better uptake, better adherence and better long-term outcomes – thanks to the ripple effect, often not just for the group participants, but also their loved ones and their wider community.
Once people understand food, everything else becomes easier. I’ve seen people:
These improvements go far beyond the programme itself. They reduce the likelihood of long-term complications and lessen the future demand on local services. It supports sustainable improvements in population health.
I always remind people that diabetes risk isn’t shaped by food alone: stress, sleep and general wellbeing all play a huge role. When someone is exhausted, overwhelmed or juggling too much, their glucose levels can rise even if their meals haven’t changed and it’s important for people to understand that.
Poor sleep drives cravings and makes portion control harder, while emotional strain often leads people to eat on autopilot. We talk about small, realistic steps that fit people’s lives, not big lifestyle overhauls. A whole-person approach is what makes the Healthier You programmes so effective. They build long-term resilience and support sustained behaviour change, not just short-term improvements based on current dietary fads.
Good food education helps the NHS achieve:
When people understand food properly, they make decisions that support lifelong health. That is one of the most cost-effective prevention tools available.
The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme gives people the practical tools they need to understand food, manage their risk and make sustainable lifestyle changes. Delivered by Xyla, it combines expert coaching with culturally tailored resources, so everyone receives advice that’s relevant to their lives.
Find out how your area can benefit from Healthier You diabetes prevention and remission programmes.