Slimming World drops into Parliament to engage with MPs
The UK’s largest weight-loss organisation Slimming World recently held a drop-in event for MPs at the Houses of Parliament.
MPs, Peers, health professionals and other external industry experts had the opportunity to hear more about Slimming World’s evidence-based approach to healthy weight loss and to meet members who have turned their lives around by improving their health, fitness and wellbeing.
The event included discussions and demonstrations on the unique elements that make up Slimming World’s member support programme – Food Optimising, Body Magic and IMAGE Therapy – as well as the role of the self-employed franchisee Consultant, and Slimming World on Referral, a partnership scheme between health professionals and Slimming World, providing eligible patients with effective, long-lasting, community-based weight loss management.
Guests were invited to visit each station to learn more about how Slimming World’s evidence-based approach is vital in ensuring Slimming World group and online members are effectively supported throughout their weight loss journey creating healthy habits for life. The support offered is in line with government objectives on eating a balanced diet, achieving physical activity guidelines and the level of behavioural change support required from a weight loss programme as recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Slimming World members and Consultants attended the event to share more about their Slimming World experience. Among them was Dave Winchester, who was named Slimming World’s Man of the Year 2022 after losing 14st 7lbs and running the London Marathon as part of Slimming World’s team, and Sarah Wynter, an NHS nurse who lost 7st and was named Slimming World’s Miss Slinky 2023.
It was a pleasure to hold the Parliamentary drop-in session and talk to MPs and industry experts about the work we do and the support we offer to help people lead healthier lives. Every week we support and encourage 700,000 members to lose weight and get more active in line with government advice and guidelines, directly in their communities and through our online service.
Elise continues: “The event also enabled participants to hear first-hand from our members about their weight-loss journeys, highlighting the success they’ve had following the weight-loss programme and developing new healthy lifestyles. Our Consultants were able to talk guests through their experience as a Slimming World member, as well as their transition to becoming a self-employed Consultant and helping others achieve their dreams.”
Sir Bill Wiggin, MP for North Herefordshire, went along to the event to meet Sarah and Consultant Jo Diggle, who runs the Slimming World group that Sarah attends each week, to congratulate her on her amazing success.
Sir Wiggin says: “I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Sarah Wynter from Hereford at the Slimming World Drop-in session in Parliament, and it was inspiring to hear of her amazing journey. I congratulate her on this fantastic achievement, and I look forward to seeing the Slimming World on Referral scheme implemented in North Herefordshire.”
Joe Thompson, 35, was once left mortified after being unable to fasten his seatbelt on a rollercoaster and having to get off. He has since lost 5st 3.5lbs with Slimming World and has been named this year’s Mr Sleek. Joe attended the event as a representative for Slimming World and shared his weight-loss journey with guests. He says: “It was an honour to represent Slimming World at the Parliamentary drop-in session. Any time I’m asked to express how Slimming World has changed my life, I do it gladly.
“It was a surreal experience talking to MPs about all aspects of the mental and physical transformation that happens when you walk through those doors to a Slimming World group. Before joining, I would never have had the confidence to take part in an event like this or to speak to politicians about my health. But now I’m so proud to talk about how my life has changed. After years of yo-yo dieting, I’ve finally found a way to live healthily, for the long term.”
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 support 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
Follow Slimming World on Twitter at twitter.com/slimmingworld or become a Slimming World fan on Facebook at facebook.com/slimmingworld
For the Press Office visit our newsroom or email public.relations@slimmingworld.co.uk