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.”