Achieving a healthy weight is a Family Affair
A research study presented at this year’s European Congress on Obesity (ECO22), held in Maastricht, the Netherlands, this week, has revealed parents who are actively seeking weight loss support as Slimming World members, and are concerned about their child’s weight, would also be interested in receiving support to help their child achieve a healthy weight.
The study from researchers at the University of Bristol demonstrated that almost half of parents (48%) who were also Slimming World members, said that one or more of their children had a healthier diet since they had started to address their own weight, and more than a quarter (27%) stated one or more of their children was doing more exercise.
In addition, the research found that more than half of parents (55%) living with obesity who actively decided to take steps to address their own weight, felt more motivated to support one or more of their children reach or maintain a healthy weight since joining a Slimming World group.
Commenting on the research, Carolyn Pallister, Nutrition, Research and Health Policy Manager at Slimming World, says: “This study supports Slimming World’s data which shows that our members pass on their newly formed healthier habits and influence their families. Our research shows that for 77% of members with children, within just three months of joining a Slimming World group their children were eating more healthily, and 41% of members who’ve started to build exercise into their routine have encouraged their family to be more active too.
Slimming World’s Food Optimising programme is designed to support people to make healthier food choices and get more active, in a way that easily fits into everyday life.
“It is fully in line with current government guidelines on healthy lifestyles and can be easily personalised to members and their family’s lifestyles. Our Family Affair approach encourages members to take healthy habits home and lay positive foundations for the whole family.”
*The lead researcher on the study is Dr Ruth Mears. Other researchers are Debbie Sharp, Russell Jago and Julian Hamilton Shield.
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 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 activity programme, Body Magic helps members to overcome any barriers around activity. 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 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
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For the Press Office visit our newsroom or email public.relations@slimmingworld.co.uk