Weight loss injections are not a magic bullet
As the UK’s leading weight management organisation, Slimming World is in a unique position with the experience, expertise and infrastructure to offer support to anyone who’s looking to make lasting changes and lose weight – including those taking GLP-1 medications.
Carolyn Pallister, Slimming World’s Head of Nutrition, Research and Health, says: “We have complete confidence in our tried, trusted, evidence-based methods. We also recognise that the new generation of drugs are an important innovation within the weight management industry.
“Research has shown that the GLP-1 medications do aid weight loss, but they’re not a magic bullet and they certainly aren’t for everyone. Some people won’t be medically eligible to take them, and there are many who won’t want to use a weight-loss medication.
“There’s also growing acknowledgement that to support weight maintenance, lasting changes around food, drink and activity are needed alongside weight-loss medication. As the UK’s leading weight management organisation, specialising in behaviour change support, we’re in a unique position to offer this support to people taking these medications.
We welcome anyone who’s struggling with their weight and needs the help, expertise and motivation to make lasting changes to their lifestyle.
“Deciding to lose weight – whether that’s with medication, surgery, with a slimming club or any other method – takes courage, determination and commitment, and we welcome anyone who’s struggling with their weight and needs the help, expertise and motivation to make lasting changes to their lifestyle.
“We encourage members who are taking weight loss medications to share that information with their fellow members and the Consultant who runs their group, so they can help them follow some additional guidelines to ensure a healthy balanced diet, and that they’re preserving their lean muscle – a risk with rapid weight loss through taking GLP-1 drugs.
“It is very easy to believe that this new generation of drugs are the holy grail and that they’ll see rates of obesity reducing. However, it’s important to remember that they’re a short-term medical intervention with many unpleasant potential side-effects. To help people who are taking medication to maintain their weight loss long term, the support to make sustainable healthy changes to what they eat and drink and to become more active is essential. That’s something we’ve been doing for 55 years and will continue to do.”
Slimming World was founded by Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE in Derbyshire in 1969 and has become the UK and Ireland’s leading weight loss organisation with more people choosing to attend a Slimming World group each week than any other weight loss programme. We support hundreds of thousands of people, both in our groups and online, to lose weight and to adopt new habits to stay slim for life.
Over the years our founding principles haven’t changed:
· Our unique programme is based on a powerfully motivating support system called IMAGE (Individual Motivation and Group Experience) Therapy. Underpinned by a deep understanding of the psychology of overweight people, and incorporating the most effective sustainable behaviour change techniques, IMAGE Therapy is designed to inspire and motivate slimmers to make positive changes and to develop new, healthier habits around food and physical activity.
· Food Optimising is our healthy eating plan, based on the liberating concept of Free Food. We encourage our members to fill up on those foods that are naturally lower in energy density (calories per gram) and also highly satisfying while limiting foods that are highest in fat and sugar and are less satisfying, so they lose weight without ever feeling hungry or deprived and without having to weigh, measure or count everything they eat.
· Our physical activity support programme, Body Magic helps members to overcome any barriers around exercise. Members choose when to start and they set the pace, finding activities they genuinely enjoy, until regular physical activity becomes an intrinsic part of their daily routine.
At the heart of everything we do lies our passion for treating every member with genuine care, empathy and respect.
We’re proud to work with the NHS, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), The Royal College of Midwives, Diabetes UK and others to help shape the future of weight management in the UK and Ireland.
For more information about Slimming World’s approach visit slimmingworld.co.uk or slimmingworld.ie
You can also follow Slimming World on X and Instagram at @slimmingworld, become a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/Slimmingworld, tune in on TikTok at @tiktok.com/@slimmingworld and subscribe to Slimming World’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/slimmingworld
For the Press Office visit our newsroom or email public.relations@slimmingworld.co.uk