A woman who has helped residents towards achieving a healthier weight has been recognised with an award.

For the last seven years, Debbie Scammell has helped many residents in Dorchester and Bere Regis towards a healthier lifestyle, and now she has been acknowledged for her service to Weight Watchers members in the community.

Last week, Debbie was awarded the prestigious Weight Watchers Diamond Coach status at her Tuesday meeting in Dorchester Community Church.

The diamond award, which celebrates a coach’s exceptional support to their members during their Weight Watchers journey, is only given out to a select group of experts across the country.

Following the launch of Weight Watchers Flex, Debbie encourages her members to enjoy food with freedom, teaches them to adopt healthy eating habits and equips them with the skills to help shift their mindset on what really matters during their healthy lifestyle and weight loss journey.

In 2017 alone, Debbie helped her members shed approximately 100 stone.

With a plan personalised to each member Debbie, who herself has lost 5 stone, has been committed to helping every member achieve their goal.

Dorchester member Jenny Leese, who was featured recently in the Echo with her partner Chris revealing their weight loss, said: “My partner and I joined weight watchers in June 2017, we both reached goal in December 2017.

“We attend Debbie’s Saturday morning sessions. The programme is fab and clearly works and the support Debbie provides is invaluable.”

It is the second time Debbie has been awarded Diamond Leader status.

She said: “I’m so proud of my members and what they’ve achieved. It has been a fantastic year and to receive this award for doing something I love is amazing. It’s great to see my members enjoying the food they love and jumping off the scales feeling happy.”

“Unlike fad diets and quick fixes, Weight Watchers Flex is the most flexible and liveable programme ever. It gives people more freedom to enjoy food after expanding its zero Points foods to a list of more than 200 delicious foods.”

Debbie runs five meetings a week in Dorchester and Bere Regis.