Alan Jackson

I have worked in the Health and wellness sector for 30 years for both the public and private sector. In 2000 I founded Weight Management Centre (WMC) an organisation dedicated to tackling the obesity epidemic in the UK. Currently annually around 2,000 adults and children are provided with weight management support through WMC. In 2006 I launched Discovery Learning, a health, fitness and wellness education organisation aimed at improving knowledge and skills in the field of physical activity and health. I remain Managing Director of these two organisations.

I specialise in adult and child obesity and have extensively researched in this field. I have authored several works on the subject including an independently accredited level 4 Obesity and Diabetes Management programme. Over ten years I have trained over 4,000 people in obesity and weight management related subjects and supported many overweight and obese clients to successfully lose weight. I have a Masters Degree in Weight Management for which received a distinction from the Department of Clinical Sciences University of Chester. I have submitted a paper to the International Journal of Obesity entitled: Do family beliefs and behaviours influence outcomes in child obesity interventions?

I regularly contribute to health events, presenting at local and national seminars and conferences as an obesity expert. I write technical articles for trade press and I am on the Technical Expert Group (TEG) for the Sector Skills Council SkillsActive in the UK. I have recently rewritten on behalf of SkillsActive the National Occupational Standards for the level 3 Weight Management and Nutrition which will become the new standard for the UK.

I am a guest lecturer for Chester University Dept of Clinical Sciences for their MSc Weight Management programme and I also work for the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (University of Manchester), as a ‘Subject Expert – weight management’ on their CPD programme for pharmacists. I am invited onto and attend the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) planning meetings for Child and adult community weight management programmes. I continue to research and examine all aspects of obesity and weight management.