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Slimming World founder and Chairman, Margaret Miles-Bramwell received an OBE at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, 17 November, for services to healthcare and charity.

The honour recognises Margaret’s remarkable contribution to the field of weight management. In the 40 years since she first started Slimming World, millions of slimmers across Britain and Ireland have benefited from its unique support and from the company’s extensive research into the causes and treatment of obesity. The honour also recognises Margaret’s significant contribution to the community. As well as being a major employer in Derbyshire, she is the driving force behind an enormous charity fundraising effort that has raised around £2.5 million since 1996, mainly for children’s charities, most recently the NSPCC.

Margaret started Slimming World from her home in Derbyshire 40 years ago because, after struggling with her own weight for years, she was disillusioned by the low standards of support available for overweight people at that time. Her vision was to create a radically different approach to weight loss, built on the twin pillars of a healthy eating plan – based on satisfying hunger with basic, low calorie foods such as lean protein, complex carbohydrates and plenty of fruit and vegetables, rather than on deprivation – and a group environment where slimmers are treated with warmth, dignity and respect. By banishing hunger and guilt, and by helping raise self esteem, her approach at one stroke removed the major obstacles faced by people with weight problems. And so, Slimming World was born.

A successful entrepreneur, Margaret has built the business into a national organisation that covers the whole of Britain. There are now more than 6,000 Slimming World groups held in the UK with an average of 300,000 members attending every week. Slimming World’s head office remains in Derbyshire and employs around 250 staff. 

Since 1996 Slimming World has donated nearly £2.5 million to charity, mainly through its own charity Slimmers Making it a Little Easier for Someone (SMILES). Each year 100% of the money raised goes directly to a chosen charity. This year the chosen charity is the NSPCC Child's Voice appeal and fundraising efforts are on track to raise £250,000. 

As well as fundraising for charity on a national scale, Margaret has put a great deal back into her local community in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. She donated a former Slimming World head office to South Normanton Parish Council for use as a cyber café for local young people, and donates to the Redhouse Family Support Centre in Alfreton which cares for children at risk and their families. 

Slimming World invests in research into weight management, and is currently involved in the DIOGENES European Research Study, the biggest pan-European obesity research project ever undertaken. A pilot project with Greater Derby Primary Care Trust in 2001 led to a slimming referral scheme that has been taken up by more than 60 health trusts across England. Slimming World now works with the NHS across the UK.

“Today Slimming World is the leading weight management company in the UK thanks to Margaret’s passionate commitment, consistent leadership and amazing vision,” said Caryl Richards, Slimming World’s Managing Director. “Over 40 years, she has striven to ensure that the company has stayed ahead of the competition while remaining true to her original belief that what slimmers need is support, respect and freedom from guilt. Margaret is greatly admired by millions of slimmers who have discovered that losing weight needn’t equal hunger or humiliation. Her vision and passion have truly changed the face of slimming in Britain.”

Margaret plays a key role in driving Slimming World’s success and is focused on developing the company internationally. The slimming club opened in the Republic of Ireland this year with unprecedented numbers attending new groups and is poised to launch in the USA.

"I am truly honoured and humbled to be recognised in this way," said Margaret. "It is a real accolade for Slimming World to be acknowledged for the role that we are playing in helping to tackle obesity. I salute all our Slimming World Consultants, staff and members everywhere, who make this very special club what it is."

Click here to see Margaret on BBC's Inside Out programme

For further information, interviews and images please contact Jenny Caven at Slimming World Press Office on 01773 546037 or 01773 546039 or 07795 445004. Email: public.relations@slimming-world.com; jenny.caven@slimming-world.com