Press Area

Why does the NHS ignore the risks of obesity surgery?

New figures showing a nine fold increase in the number of people having weight loss surgery over the last five years have been labelled “an unnecessary expense for the NHS and a danger to lives of individuals”. 
The criticism by Slimming World comes after figures from the NHS Information Centre revealed that the number of patients having gastric surgery increased from 480 procedures in 2003-04 to 4,246 procedures in 2008-09. 

Seven dress sizes smaller – student Kelly is nearly half the girl she was!

At just 19 Kelly Meager weighed 23½st and suffered serious health problems typically associated with people up to three times her age.
Now she’s lost 10st 9lbs and been named Slimming World’s Young Slimmer of the Year 2010*.

PREGNANCY NEEDN’T BE A WEIGHTY ISSUE

Slimming World has welcomed new healthy living guidance issued today by NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) for women before, during and after pregnancy.  

Is this the green light for Slimming World referral schemes across Britain?

Slimming World welcomes the release of the Medical Research Council study that compared weight loss of patients under care of a GP with those attending slimming groups. Results showed that weight losses of those attending group are far more effective than those being monitored and advised by GPs. Presenting data at the International Conference on Obesity in Stockholm in July 2010, Dr Susan Jebb said that any other similar commercial weight loss programme should yield similar results as long as it conforms to good practice guidelines and offers members regular local meetings.

'Slimming club saved my life,' says Slimming World Man of the Year who lost 12st

A little over two years ago Stuart Howells went to beg his GP to refer him for weight loss surgery after trying a number of restrictive diets and a prescription obesity drug without success. He was so overweight he had to be hooked up to a machine as weight-induced sleep apnoea¹ meant he was unable to breathe on his own at night.

Skip the diet, fill up to lose weight

For 40 years Slimming World has been encouraging members to fill up and eat more to lose weight. Now, at last, nutritionists and obesity experts outside the nation’s leading weight loss organisation are acknowledging that satiety is the key to successful weight loss.

Losing 7st gives Sue a new life, a new career and a top slimming prize!

A mum-of-two who lost more than 7st to beat post-natal depression has now beaten off competition from slimmers all over the UK to win a national slimming title.

Sylvia’s long term slimming success leads to top title!

A mum from Weston-Super-Mare, who lost five stone after getting stuck in a canoe on an activity weekend, is celebrating winning a national slimming title for keeping the weight off for more than five years.

WHAT WOMEN HATE ABOUT SUMMER!

Research by the UK’s leading slimming organisation has revealed women’s top five summer holiday horrors. And it comes as no surprise that top of the list is wearing a swimming costume in public.

Former taxi driver loses more than half his body weight to take Greatest Loser title

Fifty-seven-year-old former cab driver Mike Smith nearly lost his life to a blood clot when doctors dismissed his increasing breathlessness as a side effect of his 33st weight.

From mountains to marathons…Roberto loses 25st and gains a host of adventures!

Super slimmer Roberto Enrieu has proved he’s a man that can conquer mountains and now he wants to show he’s a marathon man too.

SLIMMING WORLD COUPLE OF THE YEAR 2010

After struggling with weight problems throughout their 30 year marriage, Alan and Jan Coupe from Fareham in Hampshire are celebrating losing more than 15 stone between them to be named Slimming World Couple of the Year 2010.

First UK BMI map launches challenge to tackle obesity

The first ‘UK BMI Map’, released today (Monday, 15 February), reveals that obesity continues to rampage through the country, with statistics showing that obesity and overweight continues to rise in every single region.  More and more people are now clinically overweight and at risk from the dangers which obesity brings. The BMI map, issued by Slimming World, the UK’s leading weight loss organisation, puts people in the East Midlands at greatest risk with around 7 out of 10 adults in cities like Leicester, Derby and Nottingham now approaching the borderline between overweight and obesity.

Biker mum slims for life in the fast lane

Two years ago Noelle Wilkinson was size 18, felt fat and frumpy and her 12 year old son was being bullied about his weight. Now, the mum of three has lost 4st 3lbs, is a slinky size 10, her husband and son are each 3 stone lighter and she’s fulfilled a lifelong dream to get her motorbike licence. Plus she’s walked away with the top prize in Slimming World’s Miss Slinky competition.

University Honours for Slimming World Founder

Slimming World founder and Chairman, Margaret Miles-Bramwell (married name Whittaker) is to receive an Honorary Degree of Master of the University from the University of Derby on Saturday, 23 January.

Surgery not only proven method of treating obese

What if a slimming organisation with 300,000 members was to declare that, while the benefits to long term health of its weight loss methods are enormous, the risk of following their method would result in 1 in 300 (1,000) of those members dying each year?  Or indeed if 1 in 20 (15,000) were at risk of serious complications such as infection or gut perforations? There would rightly be enormous public outcry.

Overweight face a ‘catalogue of discrimination’ in the workplace, shows survey

Overweight people are missing out on jobs because employers wrongly assume they are ‘lazy’, ‘lack self control’ and are ‘not hard workers’, according to a survey by Slimming World and YouGov. 

Curvy Kate Winslet tops perfect body chart

Curvy Kate Winslet has topped a national poll to find the perfect celebrity body of 2009. 

The Oscar-winning actress, who has been praised for promoting a more realistic body shape, took the top spot with 16% of the overall votes - narrowly pipping shapely Kelly Brook into second place with 15%. 

Slimmers Hand Over Weighty Cheque!

Slimmers have been losing pounds (lbs) and gaining £££££s for charity. Slimming World members across Britain have raised an incredible £250,000 for the NSPCC’s Child’s Voice Appeal in a fundraising drive throughout 2009.

Slimming World founder receives OBE

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

Wedding pics shocked ex-Casualty star into losing 12 stone

Despite weighing close on 24½ stone, Rebecca Wheatley enjoyed a successful career as an actress, singer and presenter. She spent four years playing Casualty’s larger-than-life receptionist Amy Howard and was a regular panellist on Loose Women as well as appearing in West End shows like Fame and Bad Girls: The Musical.

One in three very obese people have been insulted by a stranger over their weight

‘The Obesity Gap’ - perception phenomenon causing 10 million Brits to be unaware they are obese

Three out of four people who are obese[1] are unaware of their weight problem as rising levels of obesity mean being overweight is now ‘seen as the norm’, new research reveals.

How the business of slimming is fabulous at 40

In a world of fast track, faddy solutions to weight loss, Slimming World has real staying power. Started 40 years ago, business is booming for the UK’s leading slimming organisation, despite the economic downturn.

40 years of weightlessness

While Neil Armstrong made his great leap for mankind on the surface of the moon in 1969, a British woman called Margaret Miles-Bramwell made a giant leap for overweight people everywhere when she created a radical new approach to slimming. Forty years later, her approach has turned into a business success story beyond her wildest dreams.

Mum who ‘felt a failure’ lost 6 stone

Weighing a pound under 9st with a slender 23-inch waist, Hayley Black doesn’t look as though she’s ever had a weight problem. It’s hard to imagine that the 35-year-old mum, who has just been named Slimming World’s Top Target Member 2009*, once weighed more than 15st.

Leanne can – young slimmer takes title after 7st weight loss!

Gorgeous Leanne Needham from Sheffield has been named Slimming World’s ‘Young Slimmer of the Year 2009’ after completely turning her life around in two years.

Slimming World magazine celebrates fine figures!

Slimming World magazine has held its position as the top title in the women’s health and beauty sector.

People focus is the secret of Slimming World’s success

Slimming World, the UK’s leading weight loss organisation, is celebrating another success after being awarded Investors in People (IiP) status for the 5th consecutive time.

Queen’s Birthday Honours for Slimming World founder!

Slimming World founder and Chairman, Margaret Miles-Bramwell, has been honoured with an OBE in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to the community in Derbyshire and to the field of weight management.

Shared tips cut cost of healthy eating

As recession bites deeper, Slimming World, the UK’s leading weight management club, is committed to finding new ways to help slimmers get slim for summer through healthy eating, no matter how tight the budget. It’s committed to ensuring that members get best value from their membership with a host of money-saving measures.

Greatest Loser John's on track to lose himself!

Forty year old John Devonshire, from Llanrwst in Conwy, North Wales is the first to admit that the trauma of a devastating stroke that nearly killed him was the wake up call that he needed. Now, three years later having lost 16 stone John feels lucky to be able to reflect on the events that led to him joining his local Slimming World group and start his weight loss journey.

Pills not a solution to obesity says Slimming World

Responding to news that the latest ‘anti-obesity wonder drug’ Alli is due to go on sale over the counter tomorrow (Wednesday, April 22, 2009), Slimming World Managing Director Caryl Richards says: “Doling out pills for weight loss is not a solution to obesity.

MR & MRS SLIMMING WORLD 2009: “Happy and Confident” after 20st loss

Years of struggling with being overweight have come to end for Katie and Mark Fairhead, from Wymondham in Norfolk as the couple celebrate losing nearly 20 stone between them to be crowned Mr and Mrs Slimming World 2009.

Slimmers Hand Over Weighty Cheque!

While Slimming World’s members have been losing pounds (lbs) they’ve also managed to help charities to gain pounds (£s).

1000s Take to the Streets to Launch Community Campaign to Beat Obesity

Thousands of people all over the UK are taking to the streets this Saturday, 21st February, to support the first ever ‘Let’s Beat Obesity Together’ campaign, launched by Slimming World, the UK’s largest weight loss organisation. The campaign aims to get whole communities together to help tackle the UK’s spiralling obesity crisis.

Seven Secrets of Successful Slimmers

Every year millions of people make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight. Seventy five percent of the adult population makes weight loss their number one resolution in January, but by the end of the month many of them have already given up. What is it that makes some slimmers succeed while others fail?

Free help for overweight children as study links child obesity to thyroid problems

The UK’s most advanced slimming group is inviting parents who are concerned about their child’s weight to bring them to their local Slimming World group for free - after a new study linked obesity in children to structural changes in the thyroid.

Penny shuns gastric band to lose half her body weight

Just 18 months ago mum of four Penny Melly weighed 20 stone and suffered a catalogue of health problems. She was just weeks away from gastric band surgery. Then a leaflet through her door inviting her to join a local Slimming World group prompted her to have one last try at losing weight without surgery. Today (Tuesday, 11 November) after losing half her body weight Penny has been crowned Slimming World’s Woman of the Year 2008.

Jack Mitchell, 18, loses over 7 stone and defies the bullies

Eighteen year old Jack Mitchell from Sunderland has been announced as the winner of Slimming World’s Young Slimmer of the Year 2008 after losing 7½ stones. Jack started gaining weight when was 10 years old, after the death of his beloved granddad. “I comfort ate and started to put on weight. Things got worse when I went to comprehensive school and the bullying began. I was taunted about my weight by pupils and a teacher.”

Slimming club offers NHS lower cost obesity solution

Sir Derek Wanless’ report about NHS funding commissioned by the King’s Fund, reveals that rising numbers of obese and overweight men, women and children equate to rising costs to the NHS for treatment. Sir Derek says “obesity is the biggest single problem by a very long distance in terms of public health.”

Want To Quit Smoking? Join a Slimming Club

As the 1st July smoking ban in England looms, many smokers thinking about quitting may also be worrying about putting on weight. But weight gain needn’t be an unwanted side effect of stopping smoking. Slimming World’s nutritionist Dr Jacquie Lavin explains why starting a healthy eating plan and joining a slimming group at the same time can really help smokers to stop and slim successfully.

Thousands of young people join Slimming World to adopt a healthier lifestyle

When 12 year old Chris Bennington joined Slimming World just over a year ago, he weighed 11st 1½ lbs, the average weight of a British adult. He was bullied at school because he couldn’t keep up with the other boys and was withdrawn, quiet and shy.