New independent research shows Slimming World most effective programme for long term weight loss
New research published in the British Journal of General Practice shows that at 12 months Slimming World leads to a greater weight loss than other weight loss programmes.
The non-inferiority analysis paper by the University of Birmingham (Madigan et al. 2014. BJGP. 64 (620 e128-e136) compares group-based weight loss programmes including Slimming World, Weight Watchers, Rosemary Conley and an NHS group programme to determine which programmes are effective at 3 months and 12 months.
The paper concludes that in the short term all commercial weight loss programmes appear equal while the NHS programme results in low weight loss. However, in the longer term, after 12 months Slimming World leads to significantly greater weight loss.
Dr Jacquie Lavin, head of nutrition and research at Slimming World, says: “It isn’t surprising to us that our weight loss outcomes at Slimming World are better in the longer term. Our programme emphasises the importance of long term behaviour change. By tackling the deeper psychological and emotional issues around weight management behaviour change builds up over time. Because Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan is based on preparing normal everyday food rather than pre-packaged foods or meals, we help members to shop, cook and eat balanced healthy meals that they can share with the whole family, so eating healthily and getting more active becomes normal behaviour.
“Consultants also undergo comprehensive training to understand and facilitate group-based behaviour change, avoiding criticism or judgement and using techniques based on motivational interviewing and compassion. This helps members to identify the habits and behaviours that are affecting their weight and work out, with the support of the group, how to adopt new habits. We call this getting into a new ‘lifestyle groove’.” adds Dr Lavin.
Slimming World is the only weight loss organisation that collects electronic data from all members attending weekly weight loss sessions across the whole of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. This means that the organisation has an enormous evidence base of regular self-funding members and has access to both short and longer term weight loss data. Slimming World presented an analysis of 1.2 million member weight loss records at the European Congress on Obesity in May 2013.
