Slimming club partnership helps NHS slim obesity costs

The largest ever UK audit of a partnership between the NHS and a commercial weight management company has demonstrated the effectiveness of slimming clubs in tackling obesity with a programme of long term behaviour change on a national scale. The average person who completed a 12 week course at Slimming World lost a ‘clinically significant’ 5.5 per cent of their body weight. This increased to 8.5 per cent body weight for those who attended a group for six months. Previous research by Slimming World has shown that more than half of participants in referral schemes go on to fund themselves after the initial 12 weeks.

Published in the latest edition of ‘Obesity Facts’ (April 2011), the audit looked at 34,271 people who were referred by their doctor or another health professional to a local slimming group, giving them access to 12 weeks of support. During that period members of the slimming club begin to adopt new healthy eating habits and are encouraged to build regular activity into their daily routine. Around 60 per cent of people completed the course, losing an average of just under 1st in weight, with the top 10 per cent of patients losing an average of 24lbs in 12 weeks. Weight losses of 5.5 per cent are clinically significant because it’s at this point that the risks of weight-related conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke are reduced.

At a cost to the NHS of £3.95* a week per member, the results of the Slimming World on Referral audit show greater weight losses than those reported for more costly NHS options. Weight loss medication –although twice as expensive – doesn’t achieve a weight loss of more than 5 per cent after 12 months and doesn’t promote long term behaviour change. Previous research by Slimming World found that more than half of patients who complete a 12-week referral course with Slimming World go on to self fund after they have used their free vouchers, providing the NHS with ‘added value’ through continued weight loss paid for by the patient themselves.

Some 62 per cent of the population are currently overweight or obese and the cost of obesity to the wider economy is estimated at around £16 billion. These results suggest that partnering with commercial slimming organisations provides a cost effective way for the NHS to extend obesity management services and offer patients ongoing support that encourages behaviour change to lead healthier lifestyles.

Dr James Stubbs, Slimming World research specialist and one of the authors of the report, says: “Living in the internet age it’s never been easier for people to access healthy lifestyle information and yet the proportion of the population that is overweight continues to rise. This is because in order for people to change their behaviour they don’t just need to know what is healthy and what isn’t – many people already know that. The real key to changing behaviour is engagement.

“We know that the NHS is stretched and it just isn’t realistic to expect GPs or other health professionals like practice nurses or even dietitians to provide patients with the regular week-by-week support and ongoing advice they need to successfully lose weight and keep it off. We know from experience that commercial providers are more effective than primary care solutions in terms of cost, completion of the course and weight outcomes achieved. NHS providers can only reach a limited number of patients to offer the level of support needed as they don’t have the infrastructure to engage the public in their hundreds of thousands.

“This audit demonstrates how slimming clubs provide the NHS with cost-effective, community-based solutions that offer the public guidance, support and engagement on a national scale. Based on the most up-to-date practices in nutrition, group support and the psychology of behaviour change, companies like Slimming World, which has around 7,500 groups nationwide at the heart of communities, can meet the need for obesity solutions at a grass roots level. The support is ongoing and – unlike obesity drugs – doesn’t rely on constant NHS funding as many patients go on to self fund or attend Slimming World for free as target members.

“At a time when the NHS is looking to provide cost effective high quality care, this model could be the first rung of the ladder when it comes to tackling obesity. Providing a safe support network that is embedded in the community, local slimming groups bring about the maximum voluntary behaviour change by engaging people with regular support and realistic solutions.”

Paul Sharpe, Slimming World on Referral Manager, says: “The service that Slimming World provides is being demanded by increasing numbers of NHS departments who recognise that over 40 years of providing a cost-effective, family-based, community weight management service puts us in an ideal position to meet both the needs of the patient and the Commissioner whose budget is tighter than ever.”

John Wilcox, Public Health Development Manager for NHS Nottingham City, says: “The Slimming World on Referral scheme enables eligible Nottingham City patients to obtain locally accessible evidence based support to lose weight. Overall, this approach provides good value for money when compared to other lifestyle behaviour change and weight management interventions”.

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For further information or opportunity to speak to the authors of the report, please contact the Slimming World press office on 01773 546101 or 01773 546037 or email: public.relations@slimming-world.com

The link to the abstract of the article can be found at: http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?doi=327249

R. James Stubbs, Carolyn Pallister, Stephen Whybrow, Amanda Avery, Jacquie Lavin
Weight Outcomes Audit for 34,271 Adults Referred to a Primary Care/Commercial Weight Management Partnership Scheme
Obesity Facts 2011;4:1-1 (DOI: 10.1159/000327249)

Notes to Editors

• * The cost to the NHS of one week’s attendance at Slimming World is £3.95 excluding VAT.
• Slimming World is the largest and most advanced slimming organisation in the UK. Margaret Miles-Bramwell (OBE, FRSA) founded the company in 1969 and there are now more than 7,500 groups held weekly nationwide via a network of nearly 3,000 Slimming World trained Consultants.
• 400,000 members attend Slimming World every week and achieve outstanding success.
• Members lose 1.5 million stones every year; 28,500st every week; 4,071st every day; over 170st every hour, that’s 2st 8lb every minute of every day at Slimming World.
• Slimming World pioneered referral schemes in the UK and actively supports the building of partnerships with the NHS and local authorities to develop effective strategies to manage overweight and obesity in the community. Slimming World works with university researchers and specialists in an active research programme to further knowledge of the causes and treatment of obesity.
• Slimming World’s healthy eating plan, Food Optimising, and the principles behind Slimming World’s philosophy are based on a deep understanding of the challenges faced by overweight people. Slimming World integrates practical, up-to-date dietary advice with a highly developed support system.
• Slimming World Consultants receive specific training in dietary aspects and the role of physical activity in weight control. The highly developed training focuses on facilitating behaviour change in a group environment, acknowledged by experts as being the most effective way to support long-term weight management.