Slimming World’s unique group support system is a complex process of individual support in a powerfully motivating group setting, made simple for group members. It avoids any criticism, control or judgement and uses elements of techniques including Transactional Analysis, Motivational Interviewing, influence of ego states on behaviour and more recently Compassionate Mind Theory, to help individuals overcome their own personal barriers to change and to avoid relapse.
At Slimming World we call this positive support structure IMAGE (Individual Motivation And Group Experience) Therapy.
Based on a deep understanding of the psychology of overweight people, this support system is designed to increase the confidence and self-esteem of our members, while equipping them with tools to develop lasting self-determined behaviour change.
Our support is based on the belief that the burden carried by overweight people is two-fold. There is the burden of excess weight itself, but there is also a far heavier burden to be lifted – that of shame, self-criticism and poor self-esteem. For many overweight people, successful long-term weight loss can only be achieved by tackling these deeper emotional issues and this support is only effective when it is delivered with genuine warmth, compassion, empathy, respect and understanding.
Through a process most closely resembling motivational interviewing, Slimming World Consultants begin to understand each member’s individual motivators and goals. With gentle guidance members embark on a process of guided self-discovery, they become aware of their own individual obstacles to healthy eating and activity and develop personal strategies to overcome them. Public recognition and unconditional support while they work through this process reinforce their desire to change.
Consultants are trained to remain highly attentive, responding to the member’s body language, tone of voice and subtle self-criticism to ensure they set realistic goals and identify changes they can commit to.
Slimming World’s Image Therapy is unique among slimming clubs. It enables the Consultant to facilitate long term behaviour change from a genuinely caring and empathetic position, without judgment, criticism or desire to control.
Image Therapy takes members through the phases of commitment to change: through psychological commitment and behavioural commitment and reinforces these consistently until behaviour becomes intrinsic, ie it has become important to them and they are no longer dependent on reward or praise.
Three stages of IMAGE Therapy:
Each week a member receives:
- Appropriate praise to help them see things positively and in perspective
- Individual attention, often with group participation, to identify problems and receive help and advice to deal positively with those problems
- A positive conclusion with goals for the forthcoming week. Members leave group each week prepared with a plan to address potential problems, having set individual weight loss and behaviour change targets.
Beyond the group input, Consultants provide a deeper level of support as and when needed with a motivational toolkit including:
- Self-monitoring of food, feelings and emotions, including food diaries
- ‘For’ and ‘against’ evaluations
- Visualisation techniques
- Personal eating plans.
All of these address commitment to change depending on the individual member’s circumstances.
Focus on achievement
- Members' weights are kept confidential
- Members are encouraged to set sensible and realistic goals for long-term success
- Members choose their own Personal Achievement Targets for weight loss, both short-term and long-term, when, and if, they feel ready to do so
- Members are supported in maintaining their weight loss by the offer of free life membership when personal targets are reached
- Members are initially encouraged to focus on losing and maintaining a 10% loss of body weight, highlighting the health benefits of modest amounts of weight loss
A multi-layered approach
Our support system combines individual attention and group participation in a forum where
members can discuss their experiences, identify their own (often self-defeating) patterns of
behaviour and, with support from their group Consultant and each other, discover new ways
of overcoming barriers to change.
It's tailored to meet the needs of individual slimmers, based on the recognition that every overweight person is different. Their
psychological commitment to change has been shaped by a complex equation of individual factors including weight, body
shape, lifestyle, dieting history, opinions on food, daily habits, personality, income and family background.
For some people, perhaps those who don't have very much weight to lose, the group discussion around food and the sharing
of practical advice on healthy eating may be just the support they need to switch to a healthier way of life. For those who have
more deep-seated issues around food, more deeply ingrained patterns of self sabotage and low self-esteem, a deeper level of
motivational support is needed and given.
Through a process most closely resembling motivational interviewing, Slimming World Consultants begin to understand each
member's individual motivators and goals. With gentle guidance members embark on a process of guided self-discovery, they
become aware of their own individual obstacles to healthy eating and activity and develop personal strategies to overcome
them. Public recognition and unconditional support while they work through this process reinforce their desire to change.
Consultants are trained to remain highly attentive, responding to the member's body language, tone of voice and subtle self criticism
to ensure they set realistic goals and identify changes they can commit to.
Slimming World's Image Therapy is unique among slimming clubs. It enables the Consultant to facilitate long term behaviour
change from a genuinely caring and empathetic position, without judgement, criticism or desire to control.
Rewarding changes and celebrating success
Goal setting and rewarding success are vital as they
give each member a focus and help them to feel good
about themselves. Every achievement is recognised
and praised by the group, including new thinking and
new decisions, even where there is no weight loss
to celebrate. Members who have not lost weight get
support during Image Therapy by sharing experiences
with people who have gone through similar situations
and by receiving praise for their continued commitment.
Slimming World's award system helps the member to
stay motivated throughout their journey by breaking
down their overall goal (one that can seem enormous
at the beginning of the journey) into mini targets and
rewarding gradual changes in behaviour.
Practical advice for healthier lifestyles
As well as providing members with motivation and
behaviour change tools, Slimming World's Image
Therapy gives them the practical skills they need
to bring healthier habits into their daily lifestyle.
- The weekly groups encourage members to buy
everyday healthy foods and to cook from scratch for
themselves and their family.
- Members share favourite recipes, best buys and
special offers at local supermarkets.
- Members are encouraged to help others by talking
about how they have avoided potential pitfalls, and
share ideas for eating out and coping with
special occasions.
- The group provides ideas and solutions to encourage
activity, for allowing members to share knowledge
of local facilities, discuss personal experience of
new activities or even get together and become
'exercise buddies'.
Changes are gradual and results are steady, as
psychological barriers to changes are broken down.
With the ongoing support of the group, behavioural
commitment to new healthier habits and routines is built,
so that these changes become intrinsic.