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.
The business was set up in 1969 in her home town of Alfreton, Derbyshire, by Margaret Miles-Bramwell who was fed up with the humiliating and hunger-inducing diets on offer at the time and determined to find a better solution.
Four decades later the company is enjoying its highest ever membership figures and thriving growth of groups thanks to a strengthened field management structure, investment in training and drive to keep exceptional customer as its key business focus. The past two years have seen a 26.1% increase in membership – at a time when many businesses are losing, not gaining, ground.
In 1969, few people could have foreseen just how big a problem obesity would become. But in today’s ‘obesogenic’ world there has never been a greater need for an effective, practical method of weight management that is nutritionally sound and healthy for the whole family.
Obesity, and resulting ill health, threaten to swamp the health service. Reputable commercial slimming organisations with programmes based on sound nutritional and lifestyle advice really do have a part to play in helping the nation to make healthy changes for life. In Slimming World’s 40 year history it has brought an extremely valuable insight into the most effective ways to help slimmers through its powerful combination of a generous, healthy eating plan, group support and intrinsic activity programme.
For much of its 40 year history Slimming World has been at the forefront of effective and lasting weight loss, pioneering many initiatives and approaches which are now generally acknowledged to be the most effective way to help slimmers. Many of Slimming World’s methods have now been adopted by the weight management industry as a whole.
- The club led the field when it was the first slimming organisation to realise the importance of energy density (calories per gram) and satiety (satisfying quality of foods) in successful, long term weight loss. Founder Margaret Miles-Bramwell understood 40 years ago that making slimmers go hungry doomed them to failure and a cycle of yo-yo dieting, weight loss and weight gain. Filling up on the most filling and satisfying foods without denial put slimmers in the driving seat, giving them the control over food, not the other way round – it gave them choicepower!
- Slimming World was the first to understand the importance of psychology and behaviour change techniques that are now recognised as the key to successful weight loss and long term weight maintenance. Over the years the company has defined and developed a sophisticated group support system called Image Therapy. Based on a deep understanding of the psychology of slimmers, the organisation believes that the burden carried by overweight people is two-fold: There is excess weight, but there is a far heavier burden to be lifted – that of guilt, self-criticism and poor self-esteem
- In 2002 Slimming World pioneered a referral scheme that allowed health professionals to ‘prescribe’ slimming club membership to patients. Schemes have been adopted by more than 60 health trusts across England and thousands of patients have benefitted
- In recent years childhood obesity has become of great concern with obesity rates rising from around 7% in the early 1980s to nearly one third of young people being overweight or obese in 2009. Recognising the challenge, in 2006 Slimming World invited young people to attend support groups for free – the only organisation to offer free weight management support to young people. Around 10,000 young people attend Slimming World groups each year.
From the first group opening at a church hall in Alfreton, Derbyshire, in 1969 there are now more than 6,000 groups run by 2,500 Consultants across Britain. In 2006 Slimming World opened its first groups in Northern Ireland and took the province by storm. Earlier this year the company moved across the border into the Republic of Ireland – the first group there set a company record when 174 new members turned up for the opening night.
“Two thirds of people in the UK are looking for a practical, healthy way to lose weight - and to keep it off - that’s over 30 million people. Ours is a locally based business led by individuals from within the community who help people to shop, cook and eat more healthily,” says Managing Director Caryl Richards.
“There’s no such thing as a ‘quick fix’. Slimming World offers members a lasting solution. During a recession, it’s easy for people to think that looking after themselves is a luxury, but as we face a major obesity crisis in the UK, our message is that maintaining a healthy weight isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity for a healthy future. And it’s our job to help people achieve that without spending a fortune,” she says.
Slimming World’s growth over 40 years has been a result of exceptional customer service and personal recommendation from delighted members rather than expensive advertising campaigns or marketing gimmicks. Today, ‘word of mouth’ is still the most powerful recruitment tool for new members – and an ongoing driver for excellent quality of service.
“Body weight and overweight are profoundly personal issues,” says Caryl. “People know that the way to avoid being overweight is to eat fewer calories and become more active but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to make the changes we know are needed. At the point when people turn to someone for help, their frame of mind and motivation is often fragile and this threatens their ability to achieve change. Any intervention which deepens the complex feelings of guilt or self criticism is counter-productive and highly damaging. We understand this better than anyone else in the business.
“Slimming World helps people to shed the misery of excess weight – and that does not necessarily mean becoming thin – by helping them lead happier, more fulfilling, less stressful and therefore healthier lives. We strive to ensure members have the motivation, confidence and support they need in order to make healthy and highly effective lifestyle changes - for life. No matter how many new pills or gadgets are invented, how invasive the surgery on offer, nothing can replace the empowerment, the feeling of self-worth and the long term life-changing benefits which people gain from doing it for themselves.” – ends –
Notes to Editors
· 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 6,000 groups held weekly nationwide via a network of 2,500 Slimming World trained Consultants.
· In 2009 Slimming World celebrates its 40th Anniversary and four decades of helping people to lose weight without deprivation, guilt or hunger.
· 300,000 members attend Slimming World every week and achieve outstanding success.
· Members lose 17,857 stones every week: 2,551 stones every day, over 106 stones every hour, that’s 1 stone 10 lbs lost every minute of every day with Slimming World.
· Slimming World pioneered Slimming World on Referral 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 OptimisingÒ, 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.
· For further information please contact the Slimming World press office on 01773 546039, 01773 546101 or 01773 546037 or email: public.relations@slimming-world.com
| 
| 
