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Dear
Welcome to the latest edition of our Weight and Health Now newsletter for health professionals. In this latest edition we have lots of stories and information that you might find useful in your role supporting patients, so please read on.
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Top male slimmers referred by a health professional
Eight out of 32 men who made the finals of Slimming World's Man of the Year 2016 competition took their first steps to a healthy lifestyle after a doctor, nurse or occupational health professional talked to them about losing weight.
Seven of the eight men lost weight through the Slimming World on Referral partnership, where patients are given blocks of 12 weeks of free membership of Slimming World. After completing their referral they went on to self-fund, meaning they continued to lose weight at no cost to their Local Authority. The other patient joined Slimming World after recommendation from his GP.
The eight men have lost more than 70st between them to significantly improve their health.
Read more about Slimming World on Referral →
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People take five years to discuss weight worries – an opportunity for health professionals
 It takes an average of five years and seven months for an overweight person to discuss their weight worries with someone else, new data suggests.
The research by Slimming World reveals that it takes four years and two months for an overweight person to admit to themselves that their weight is a problem and another 17 months for them to discuss it with another person.
As most people gain weight each year, the five-and-a-half year delay is likely to see them become heavier and could increase their chances of developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer and affect their emotional wellbeing. This provides health professionals with an opportunity when it comes to raising the issue of weight compassionately with their patients.
Common reasons for not talking about weight worries sooner included preferring to deal with things themselves (27%), feeling too embarrassed (22%), not wanting to admit they had a problem (12%) and not wanting to worry others (11%).
Read more about the research here → |
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'Machobesity' – Men see weight worries as feminine
'The 'Machobesity Report', by Slimming World revealed that men see asking for help to manage their weight as 'feminine' and take three times longer than women to tackle weight worries. Once they do open up to someone about their weight concerns, men are only really likely to talk to their partner (37%) or a health professional (33%), while women have a much larger circle including parents, friends and a weight loss advisor. This makes the role of health professionals particularly important in tackling male obesity.
The report revealed that while men are far less likely to see commercial weight management organisations as socially acceptable compared to physical activity, published data shows men actually lose more weight than women at Slimming World: 5.7% of their body weight in 12 weeks compared to 4.3% for women and attend more frequently. At the same time, many overweight men reported that they would find it very difficult to complete fairly modest activity challenges including running 100 metres without stopping or doing 10 press-ups. Slimming World currently supports 40,000 men to lose weight each week.
The report was welcomed by Public Health England, the Men's Health Forum and the National Federation of Builders.
Read the 'Machobesity report' here
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The 'Child's Obesity Strategy' - How young people would solve the childhood obesity crisis
Ahead of the recent publication of the Government's delayed childhood obesity strategy, Slimming World and the Royal Society for Public Health invited young people – some of whom had successfully lost weight with Slimming World's Family Affair programme for 11-15 year olds – to a workshop to share their views about how the childhood obesity epidemic could be tackled. Their ideas were tested in a survey of more than 500 young people and published in 'The Child's Obesity Strategy' report in June.
The survey found that almost a quarter of young people (25%) have ordered a takeaway to their school and around half see fast food takeaways as most at fault for childhood obesity. Ideas suggested by young people to tackle child obesity included the introduction of new initiatives such as film-style classifications on unhealthy food and a loyalty card to reward healthy food choices, as well as a ban on fast food firms being allowed to deliver to schools.
Public Health England and the Department of Health welcomed the innovative report.
Read more about the 'Child's Obesity Strategy' here →
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Good health in pregnancy: experts invited to parliament
Slimming World and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) were invited to an event in Parliament to talk about the importance of promoting good health in pregnancy as the foundations for a healthy family.
Louise Silverton CBE, Director for Midwifery at RCM, and Amanda Avery RD, Assistant Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics at University of Nottingham and Consultant Dietitian to Slimming World, were guests of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on a Fit and Healthy Childhood in July.
The APPG is chaired by the Baroness Benjamin OBE and attracts a wide and active membership of parliamentarians and external organisations. The group exists to inform policy decisions and public debate relating to all aspects of childhood health and wellbeing, including obesity.
Read more about the APPG here →
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UKCO 2016: Slimming World Symposium on practical solutions to obesity
 Delegates at the ASO UK Congress on Obesity 2016 (UKCO 2016) in September are invited to attend Slimming World's symposium, 'Research and Reach: Practical Solutions in an Overweight World' on Monday September 19th, 15.45–17.15.
Bringing together experts in the field of behaviour change and weight management, including Professor Ken Fox and Dr Paul Sacher, the symposium will discuss the development of person-centred partnerships based on an understanding of the needs of people who are overweight to deliver effective and scalable weight management approaches.
The session will explore the value of using a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency, evidence–based and outcome driven approach. It will be led by Amanda Avery, Assistant Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Nottingham and Consultant Dietitian in weight management at Slimming World.
Read more about the symposium here → |
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Slimmers slim out of clothes and raise £2.1 million!
A campaign which invites Slimming World members to donate the clothes they have slimmed out of to charity has raised £2.1 million in two weeks.
'The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw' is an annual fundraising campaign where Slimming World members who have lost weight donate the clothes, shoes and accessories they no longer need to their local Cancer Research UK shops. Taking place over two weeks in May each year, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the links between losing weight and reducing the risk of developing some types of cancer.
Now in its third year, this has been the most successful Big Slimming World Clothes Throw yet, with more than 80,000 bags donated – an 11% rise on 2015 and a 113% rise on 2014. With each bag collected worth around £25, the Clothes Throw campaign has now raised £5.8m since it launched in 2013.
Read more about the 'Big Slimming World Clothes Throw' here →
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Click here to find out more about Slimming World's approach to healthy eating, facilitating behaviour change through deep understanding and compassion and supporting an active lifestyle.
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