Slimming World is set to partner with the University of Derby in a special new appointment. The partnership will see Professor James Stubbs, research specialist at Slimming World and a renowned obesity and satiety expert, appointed to the Miles-Bramwell Chair in Behaviour Change and Weight Management at the University. At the University, Professor Stubbs will focus research on behaviour change and long-term weight maintenance. Professor Stubbs will mark his appointment with a public lecture today (Wednesday, July 9th) at the University.

Slimming World founder Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE, the chair's namesake, is pictured here with Dr Stubbs (right) and Derby University's Head of Science Dr Chris Bussell.

We are delighted with the new NICE guidance recognising that weight loss support programmes must avoid stigmatising those who are overweight and that solutions should be focused on long-term success rather than quick fixes. As a stakeholder in the NICE consultation on the draft guidance, Slimming World stressed the need for the new guidelines to ensure that lifestyle weight management services offer non-judgemental support to people in the long term and is pleased that the new guidelines recognise that those who struggle with their weight face both physical and emotional challenges.

Our report The missing link between alcohol and weight, which looked at how passing a ‘tipping point’ with alcohol can impact on lifestyle choices, has generated lots of interest.

After a media splash including BBC News Online, The Times, the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph, Pulse and Slimming World's Head of Nutrition and Research, Dr Jacquie Lavin's appearance on Chris Evans’ BBC Radio 2 show, we've now begun a dialogue with key Ministers, politicians and public health groups. The campaign was seen by 29% of the UK population. Of those, 36% said it led to them thinking about how alcohol could be affecting their weight and 23% say they now drink less as a result.

We were delighted to hear the story of a young man who has seen significant improvements in his epilepsy since losing 5st with Slimming World. Daniel Hassall, from Sandbach in Cheshire, had struggled with his weight ever since being diagnosed with the condition aged five. By the age of 19 he weighed 18st 8lbs and suffered up to 30 partial seizures per day and one grand mal seizure every couple of weeks. Since losing 5st he's down to five partial seizures per day and his grand mal seizures are far less frequent too. He's also been able to start exercising without triggering a seizure and is now teaching martial arts as a volunteer. Daniel is Slimming World's Young Slimmer of the Year 2014.

Many health professionals tell us that discussing a patient's weight can be difficult, yet it's an extremely important conversation to have. This month Slimming World delivered a workshop at the Royal College of Nursing Congress to provide nurses with practical tips on how to raise the issue of weight with their patients in a sensitive and supportive manner and to talk about the benefits that this can bring. The session was reviewed by Nursing Standard, and you can read this here. A new best practice guide to help professionals discuss their patient's weight and raise awareness of weight-related issues has been produced by Slimming World.

Through our Alliance partnership with The Royal College of Midwives we have developed an online training module on the subject of supporting pregnant women with weight management. The module was launched this month at the International Congress for Midwifery in Prague as part of The RCM's i-learn package for midwives (an online learning resource which aids midwives CPD and day-to-day practice). This module looks at the possible stigma and prejudice that overweight women face, the barriers to discussing weight, tips and advice on raising the issue sensitively including audio examples showing good (and not so good) practice, and advice on supporting a healthy lifestyle. The &1dquo;Obesity: Supporting Women” module is available to midwives registered with The RCM at, www.rcm.org.uk, within the i-learn section of the website.