New independent research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Paediatrics Open found that many parents attending weight management groups reported positive changes in their children’s health behaviours, including increased physical activity and eating healthier food.

The survey, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), explored the experiences of 396 Slimming World members with children aged five to 11 and found that:

• more than two thirds (67 per cent) who were concerned about their child’s weight felt more motivated to support them after addressing their own weight

• almost half (48 per cent) of parents reported healthy improvements in what their child ate after they joined the weight loss programme

• more than a quarter (27 per cent) said their child had become more physically active

The findings come against a backdrop of growing concerns about obesity rates among younger generations. Global studies suggest that one in three children, adolescents and young adults could be living with overweight or obesity by 2050 , while evidence shows children with parents living with obesity are more likely to experience obesity themselves .

Researchers at the University of Bristol who carried out the study say the findings highlight the importance of considering the wider family impact of adult weight management interventions.

Dr Ruth Mears, Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Bristol's Centre for Academic Primary Care, and one of the study’s authors, says: “This research strengthens the case for putting families at the heart of adult weight management policy and practice. Supporting parents doesn’t necessarily just improve outcomes for individuals – it may positively influence children’s everyday health behaviours such as their diets and activity levels. Weight management programmes that recognise and harness this family-wide benefit might potentially play an important role in creating healthier home environments and improving health outcomes for future generations.”

Improving health and dissatisfaction with appearance emerged as the leading motivations for weight loss among parents, each influencing more than four in five (81 per cent) respondents. Many parents wanted their children to have a healthier future because of the difficulties they had faced themselves with their weight and health.

Dr Sarah-Elizabeth Bennett, Senior Nutritionist at Slimming World, says: "These findings reinforce what we've long known at Slimming World: when parents adopt healthier habits, the benefits often extend beyond the individual and become part of everyday family life. From healthier meals and increased physical activity to more positive attitudes towards food and wellbeing, these changes can help shape healthier futures for children too.

“Supporting members to build healthy habits that work for the whole household has been at the heart of our approach since Margaret Miles-Bramwell founded Slimming World as a young mum more than 55 years ago. Through family-friendly recipes and practical activity ideas, we've always encouraged healthy habits to support positive change across the family. Our own evidence has consistently shown that this approach helps create healthier home environments and healthier futures for the next generation."

Slimming World’s approach focuses on helping members make sustainable changes to their eating, activity and lifestyle habits through peer support and behaviour-change strategies. By combining practical healthy eating and activity guidance with goal setting and the encouragement of a supportive group who are all losing weight too, members are empowered to make realistic changes that fit into everyday life and support long-term weight management.

The researchers conclude that future work is needed to better understand how adult weight management programmes can further contribute to healthier family environments and support positive behaviour change across generations.

ENDS

Claire Kane, 41, lost 18st 7lbs after joining her local Slimming World group and says the impact reached far beyond her own weight loss. The mum-of-two from Airdrie says: "One of the most powerful things about being a Slimming World member is the ripple effect it can have on the people around you. When I first walked into group, I weighed 29st and felt like I'd run out of options. People are often surprised that I didn't lose weight through surgery or medication. It was the support, encouragement and belief of my Consultant and fellow members that helped me make small changes, build healthier habits and learn practical strategies for navigating everyday challenges. That knowledge and confidence helped me stay on track, even when things felt difficult.

“Those changes haven't just transformed my life, they've had an impact on my whole family. As a mum of two daughters, I know they're always watching and learning from me. The healthier habits I've developed through Slimming World are helping to shape the relationship they'll have with food and that's incredibly important to me. I'm now living the life I always dreamed of, but if my girls grow up with a healthier relationship with food than I did, that'll be one of the biggest successes of my journey."

Disclaimer: Nothing contained in this press release shall be taken as indicating any endorsement, approval, recommendation, or sponsorship by the University of Bristol and the NIHR of Slimming World, its products, services, programmes, or activities. References to the University of Bristol do not imply any form of partnership, endorsement, or commercial support between the University of Bristol and Slimming World.

Lived experience case study:

Please note that individuals shared as case studies in this media release were not participants in the research study. Their experiences are shared solely to help illustrate themes relevant to the research findings.

Images of Claire Kane and more lived experience case studies are available on request.

About Slimming World

• Slimming World was founded by the late Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE in Derbyshire in 1969. It is 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.

• Our evidence-based approach has helped millions of people to lose weight and keep it off long term. We support hundreds of thousands of people weekly through our community weight loss groups, run by highly trained self-employed Consultants, and through our digital service.

• Slimming World’s support system is built on a deep understanding of the guilt and stigma people living with overweight and obesity experience. We always treat people with genuine care, empathy, respect and understanding. When members join Slimming World, they become part of a community, in group and online, and each week we inspire and motivate people to make positive mindset changes and develop new, lasting healthy habits around food and activity.

• Our healthy eating plan, Food Optimising, is centred around ‘Free Foods’ – foods that are lower in energy density (meaning they have less calories per gram), and highly satisfying, so you can fill up on them for fewer calories. It’s a flexible plan enabling members to lose weight without ever feeling hungry or deprived, and without weighing, measuring or counting everything they eat.

• Our active lifestyle programme helps members overcome any barriers they face with exercise. They choose when and how to start, setting their own pace and finding activities they enjoy until regular physical activity becomes an unmissable part of their daily routine.

About the National Institute for Health and Care Research

The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:

• Funding high quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care;

• Investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services;

• Partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research;

• Attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges;

• Collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system;

• Funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries.

NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK Aid from the UK government.

About NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Bristol

NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Bristol’s innovative biomedical research takes science from the laboratory bench or computer and develops it into new drugs, treatments and health advice. It focuses on early phase translational research and experimental medicine that aims to improve mental and respiratory health, optimise physical activity, nutrition and weight maintenance in the population, and introduce new surgical and orthopaedic interventions safely and ethically.

NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Bristol draws on Bristol’s expertise in developing interventions to improve the health of patients and the public. Its world-leading scientists use detailed genetic and molecular data to understand causes of disease. They also evaluate new surgical procedures and analyse large-scale datasets from records collected during routine NHS care. NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Bristol is unique among the NIHR’s 20 BRCs across England, thanks to its expertise in ground-breaking population health research.

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