The News of the World this week reported that doctors in the North West are spending twice as much on obesity drugs as they do in the south, with £8.3million spent on diet pills in Manchester and Liverpool in a year. The smallest bill for pills was the South Central Health Authority which spent only £2.6million. The article claims that the NHS is set to spend £50million on obesity drugs this year. 

Is there an alternative?  Yes, yes, yes! 

Slimming World pioneered Slimming World on Referral as a way of working hand in hand with UK health professionals to help manage overweight and obesity from within the heart of local communities. The scheme is designed so that health professionals – from a single GP practice to a local health authority – can buy 12-week Countdown packs at a subsidised cost, while the patient benefits from Slimming World’s expertise and support free of charge. 

Members who are referred to Slimming World by their GP receive a 12 week course that costs just £44.50 – around ⅓ of the price of a 3 month course of anti-obesity drugs and at a fraction of the cost of a stomach stapling operation at around £7,000. People who attend Slimming World on Referral learn how to change the way they eat, become more active and receive the warm and friendly support of a group. They learn how to make the lasting lifestyle changes that will help them lose weight effectively and in the long-term – saving the NHS money and being more effective!  

Dr James Stubbs, research officer at Slimming World says: “The key to successful and long-term weight loss and maintenance is to make healthy habits a part of your everyday lifestyle. Research has also shown that the support that you receive at a Slimming World group plays a key role in boosting your confidence to make the changes and keep weight off in the long term.” 

Visit our Real Success section to discover how Slimming World on Referral was just what the doctor ordered for members Patricia and Lyndsey:
 www.slimmingworld.com/real_success/letter_patricia_hart.asp
www.slimmingworld.com/real_success/letter_lyndsey_stanley.asp

Researchers at Karolinska Institute in Sweden have recently announced that eating like a caveman can help reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. 

They’re not talking sautéed sabre-toothed tiger or marinated mammoth either!  The stone-age diet included fresh or frozen fruit, berries or vegetables, lean meat, fish, canned tomatoes, lemon or lime juice, spices and coffee or tea, as well as daily portions of potatoes – sound familiar?  They’re all Free Foods when Food Optimising!  

As well as reduced blood pressure, the 20 volunteers who took part in the study lost 2-3 kg over the course of three weeks.  Benefits that thousands of Slimming World members experience month in month out – without giving up their favourite modern-day treats!

Both the Daily Star and the Daily Express carry news that today - the second Tuesday in May - is the best day of the year to start a new slimming campaign!

So if you’d love to start your slimming campaign on the very best day of the year – or whenever the time is right for you – our warm and friendly Consultants (who have all been members of Slimming World themselves – are waiting to welcome you.

Click here to find your nearest group today: www.slimmingworld.com//join/join_a_group.asp

When Elaine Gammond, a manager at the Elliman Resource Centre in Slough, Berkshire heard about Slimming World’s referral programme she approached her local Berkshire East Primary Care Trust (PCT) to fund a trial service for people with learning difficulties at the centre.

The PCT already had a Slimming World on Referral programme in place, so they agreed to the extension of the programme. A new Slimming World group was set up in-house at the resource centre specifically for members with special needs who could be referred by their GP. A Slimming World Consultant ran the group with support from the PCT’s learning difficulties care staff. Members, ranging in age from 20-60 attended the group with their carers for 24 weeks.

Slimming World prepared visual aids such as laminated pictures of low energy dense foods (Slimming World’s Free Foods) and packaging to present Food Optimising, Slimming World’s unique, balanced, healthy eating plan. Members were encouraged to eat plenty of Free Foods and to choose healthier meal options. They also took part in Slimming World’s Body Magic programme which encourages small steps to regular activity. The centre arranged activities such as group walks and keep-fit classes which the members embraced enthusiastically. They also started a local beginners’ dancing class and held a Special Olympics day. Average attendance was 19 weeks, weight change was -4.2kg and 55% achieved a 5% weight loss within the 24 weeks.

“Slimming World welcomes members with learning difficulties or special needs accompanied by their carers at our groups,” says Sue Gibson, Business Development Manager (Public Health). “We have produced weight management support literature in Braille and larger print as well as an audio version for the visually impaired and other patient groups.”

If you love summer, you’ll love Simply Summer! Bursting with 50 flavoursome, Free Food-filled recipes, Slimming World’s vibrant brand new book guarantees a taste of sunshine – whatever the weather! 

From sizzling barbecues and perfect family picnics to easy al fresco entertaining, Simply Summer mixes the very best seasonal ingredients with the most satisfying healthy eating plan around – Food Optimising. 

Whether you’re a budding Jamie Oliver or a beginner in the kitchen, you’ll find every occasion on your summer social calendar is catered for – and your friends and family will never guess you’re slimming!

Choose from sumptuous starters and salads, mouth-watering main courses and delectable desserts – all quick and easy to prepare. And, with over half the recipes being Free on one or both choices and the rest having 5 Syns or less per serving, a deliciously slim summer is well and truly on the menu!

Simply Summer is only available at your local Slimming World group.  Join today and enjoy a simply sensational, slimmer summer!

Last Tuesday Slimming World's Greatest Loser awards ceremony was held, recognising the amazing achievements of our members who have lost the most weight. Between our ten finalists they have lost a staggering 154 stone 4lb! 

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The event was held at the Kensington Roof Gardens and was also attended by journalists, health professionals and our very own Slimming World stars from our previous competitions, including Woman of the Year 2007 Stephanie Burgess, Graham Clough our Man of the Year from 2001 and many, many more.

The winner of Greatest Loser 2008 is Roberto Enrieu who attends Jane Smith’s Whitley group in Coventry. Roberto has lost an amazing 22 stone 12lb since joining Slimming World in May 2006. He was presented with a prize of £3000 from Caryl Richards, Slimming World's Managing Director, and Julie Jones (last year’s Greatest Loser) along with his Consultant Jane.

Roberto also featured on Tuesday's ‘The One Show’ (available on iPlayer) and you can also see him on the GMTV website!  Visit Slimming World's website again on Monday to read Roberto's amazing story of weight loss success.

 

Slimming World’s Greatest Loser 2008 will be revealed today at a dazzling lunchtime event at Kensington's Rooftop Gardens, London.  The competition is open to members of Slimming World groups from across the UK and is awarded to the entrant with the greatest weight loss, provided some of that weight loss has occurred within the last 12 months with Slimming World.

And, although we can't yet reveal our fabulous winner, tune in to BBC1's  One Show tonight at 7pm to hear their amazing story of weight loss success or visit our blog tomorrow to discover more!

Midwives at University Hospital Wales in Cardiff are working with Slimming World in a study to help women who are classified obese to become healthier during pregnancy.

There’s clear evidence that pregnant women with a BMI of over 30 are at increased risk of developing complications when pregnant and during childbirth. Obesity increases the risk of maternal death in pregnancy and also restricts the choices available to women who are increasingly having to give birth in very high-tech environments, putting them at a greater risk of caesarean section.

Women who attend the hospital’s antenatal clinic and have a BMI above 30 are offered vouchers to attend Slimming World groups. The focus is not on weight loss but on encouraging women to adopt a healthier lifestyle during pregnancy.

A clinical trial will work with over 200 overweight pregnant women with the aim of preventing further unnecessary weight gain during pregnancy. Other health indicators are being monitored, including general well being, babies’ birth weights and indices of pre-eclampsia and caesarean section.

“Slimming World’s approach supports women to make lifestyle changes for the future – it’s not about a quick fix or faddy diet,” says Karen Jewell, the lead midwife on the study.

Margaret Miles-Bramwell, founder and chair of Slimming World, celebrated her 60th birthday in style last weekend at the Alton Towers Hotel.

In a diamond-themed surprise evening, organised by Margaret’s daughter Claire Brackenbury and company buyer Pam James, guests were treated to a special version of “This is Your Life” hosted by ‘King of the Jungle’ Christopher Biggins!

Guests watched live via satellite as Margaret had the ‘Big Red Book’ presented to her at Callow Hall, then table entertainers kept the guests entertained while the entourage arrived for the ‘Bigg’ event!

Christopher Biggins welcomed key figures from Margaret’s life to the stage, including one of her first teachers from New Street Junior School, Margaret Greasley, and school friends, one of whom she hadn’t seen since she was 18, before presenting her with the famous red book.

Entertainment included artist John Hicks, Judge the Poet and sensational singers Ooh James, and the evening culminated at midnight with a laser light and fire spectacular!

It was the first city in America to ban trans-fats from food outlets. Now New York has set another US first - from today, larger food chains such as McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks must display the calories of their products on menus. The new rules apply to all chains with at least 15 outlets across the country - which in the case of New York accounts for 2,000 restaurants. The city authorities say the reform will help New Yorkers get a better sense of what they are eating as part of the ongoing battle against obesity and diabetes.

Good news for calorie counters – but of course, Slimming World members don’t have to weigh, measure or count with our liberating, flexible healthy eating plan!  And with ongoing group support – sharing ideas for healthy eating out and eating in options that the whole family will enjoy  - AND our brand new Food Directory – giving members the low-down on healthy choices when eating out – weight loss without calorie counting is well and truly on the menu!