Slimming World
{{Short description|Weight loss products and services company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Slimming World
| logo = Slimming World company logo
| type = Private
| foundation = 1969
| location = Alfreton, Derbyshire
England
| key_people = Margaret Miles-Bramwell (Chairperson)
David RathboneAdam Hitchcock {{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/01555105/officers|title=SLIMMING WORLD LIMITED - Officers (free information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-12-27}}
| products = Weight loss
| num_employees = 400 (head office/field management), 3,500 (consultants)[http://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/about-us/about-slimming-world.aspx Slimming World - About us]
| homepage = [http://www.slimmingworld.co.uk www.slimmingworld.co.uk]
}}
File:Slimming World Whetstone Citroën branded car.JPG
Slimming World is an English weight loss organisation. It was founded in Derbyshire in 1969 by Margaret Miles-Bramwell, who remained its chairperson until her death on 2 February 2025.
Its focus is predominantly weight loss, and supports members to maintain a healthy weight once they reach their target. It operates through a network of 3,500 consultants across the country.
Slimming World offers an eating plan based on food satiety and energy density as well as a group support service called IMAGE Therapy.{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/j.1467-3010.2010.01827.x | volume=35 | title=Dietary and lifestyle measures to enhance satiety and weight control | year=2010 | journal=Nutrition Bulletin | pages=113–125 | last1 = Stubbs | first1 = J.| issue=2 }}
Company history
The company began in 1969 with a handful of groups in Derbyshire before expanding into Yorkshire.
Slimming World launched its charity SMILES (Slimmers Making It a Little Easier for Someone) in 1997.[http://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/information/smiles.aspx SMILES]
Slimming World publishes recipe books and directories for group members and launched Slimming World magazine in 1998.
In 2001, the company launched a referral scheme in which GPs could prescribe 12 weeks' attendance to patients wishing to lose weight. In 2011, a paper in the journal Obesity Facts showed patients attending at least 10 sessions achieved a clinically significant loss of 5% of their body weight.[http://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/327249 Stubbs, J et al (2011). Weight Outcomes Audit for 34,271 Adults Referred to a Primary Care/Commercial Weight Management Partnership Scheme, Obesity Facts, 2011;4:113–120]
Diet
In its 2014 guidance, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence lists Slimming World alongside the Rosemary Conley and Weight Watchers programmes as being "effective at 12 to 18 months".{{citation |publisher=National Institute for Health and Care Excellence |year=2014 |url=http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph53/chapter/1-recommendations |work=Managing overweight and obesity in adults – lifestyle weight management services |title=Chapter 1: Recommendations}}
Slimming World encourages members to introduce physical activity into their everyday routines. It introduces this gently with activities such as walking up stairs instead of taking the lift. Members get bronze, silver, gold and platinum awards as their activity levels increase, achieving platinum when they routinely exercise or undertake 30 minutes' activity five times weekly.[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-physical-activity-guidelines Inside Government - new activity guidelines (2011)]
Slimming World works in partnership with the Royal College of Midwives and is the first national slimming organisation to support pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers to manage their weight healthily during pregnancy.[http://www.rcm.org.uk/college/about/media-centre/press-releases/slimming-world-and-royal-college-of-midwives-launch-partnership-30-01-12/ Royal College of Midwives - Media Centre] Its policy was written in collaboration with the college and mothers take part with the consent of their midwife.