Obesity is one of the UK's most urgent health problems, and, in England, it's growing at 1.25 per cent each year. This means that by the end of 2009, another 675,000 people will be obese - that's 1,850 people every day becoming a statistic, and putting their long-term health at risk.  

Researchers at Slimming World have identified that if slimmers are successful in the first six weeks of a weight loss campaign, they're far more likely to carry on and lose weight in the long term. The motivation of a great start in those crucial first six weeks is strongly linked to would-be slimmers reaching their ultimate target weight and the longer they keep going to a slimming group the more likely they are to stay at their goal weight long term.  

Now we're is marking its 40th anniversary by unveiling a brand new eating plan which promises to make losing weight easier than ever before. Created by our expert team of nutritionists, the new plan, called 'Extra Easy', has been piloted throughout 2008 with highly successful results.  

Our new plan cuts right through all the conflicting advice around at this time of year to give a really easy, flexible start to every slimmer's journey. It's easy to follow with loads more choices, no measuring and no counting. And because it's based on basic everyday filling foods it fits easily with the family whatever their lifestyle.

In trials members had great results on the scales - as well as saving money on their weekly shopping bills!  In trials members who tried the new plan were enthusiastic about its flexibility and adaptability. They report that because it is so easy to follow, with no weighing or measuring, plenty of choice and enough freedom to still enjoy a glass of wine or chocolate it is easier than ever to stick to. 

Sue Kennedy, a member who has been trying the new eating plan since November says: "I had been struggling to get to my target weight and Extra Easy has made it feel less of a struggle. I love it! I lost 4lbs in two weeks - I'm very happy, it's going to be a slimmer New Year." 

The Extra Easy Plan is based around four main principles:  

• Choice and satisfaction: choosing healthier foods and eating to satisfy your appetite
• Sustainability: choosing normal everyday foods that fit with the whole family and can be cooked and prepared easily
• Affordability: choosing foods that fit with every budget and taste
• Healthy eating: based on a healthy balanced diet that includes all essential food groups and encourages slimmers to fill up on at least five fruit and vegetables a day

• Group support: through the support of a group, a Consultant or online, members learn to identify their own personal, emotional and mental blocks that prevent successful weight management. Ongoing support and encouragement boosts their confidence and self-esteem.
• Becoming more active:  building activity into their everyday life by taking small steps to make activity an intrinsic part of the day.
  

A truly easy weight loss plan is the holy grail for slimmers. Our new plan isn't magic - it does require people to change their eating habits and make healthier, low fat food choices. But we believe it genuinely is the most liberating and 'user friendly' weight loss plan currently available to slimmers in the UK, and we're 100% confident that anyone who tries it will lose weight.

To find out more about Extra Easy, visit our Extra Easy page here, or try it for FREE with our new 7-day eating plan!

The Daily Telegraph are today reporting that an ‘Obesity gene’ boosts appetite (see pg8).  It reports that scientists have discovered a gene linked to obesity works by increasing the appetite. A study of more than 3,000 children, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism shows that those who had the gene – called FTO – were less likely to feel ‘full’ after eating than their classmates. People with two copies of the gene are on average 7lb heavier, and those with one gene are 3lb heavier than those without the gene.

Our research specialist, Dr James Stubbs, comments: “While your genes determine your biological makeup, it’s the environment that you live in and your lifestyle habits which determine the weight you gain. Only in a very minute number of cases can a genetic reason be found as the cause for weight gain. If you were found to have the gene variation, the advice would be to change your behaviour by eating healthily and doing regular exercise.

“As always Slimming World’s message is that the key to successful and long-term weight loss and maintenance is to make healthy habits a part of your everyday lifestyle. Research has also shown that the support that you receive at a Slimming World group plays a key role in boosting your confidence to make the changes”.

Shared eating and lifestyle habits which are passed down from parents to children have a much bigger effect on weight gain than biological make-up. There are the lucky few who don’t gain weight as easily, but the good news for those of us who do gain weight is that through Food Optimising, Image Therapy and Body Magic Slimming World offers all the support and techniques we need to help us to change our behaviour and lead a healthier lifestyle – whatever our genetic makeup!  And, of course, with Free Food - healthy, filling everyday foods - even the largest appetites can be satisfied without the worry of weight gain.

James joined Slimming World after 13 years at the Rowett Research Institute where he was Principle Scientific Officer. While there he conducted large-scale human trials into weight control and obesity.  Read James’ biography here.

On last night’s F Word, Janet Street-Porter was on a mission – to turn the British public from a nation of smoothie-slurpers to fresh-fruit munchers! As Janet pointed out, we drink literally tons of the stuff in the belief that we’re being ‘healthy’, whereas in fact, these tempting little drinks can add a lot of extra calories - and sugar - to your diet (more than a can of fizzy pop in many cases!) without filling you up.

It’s something Slimming World members have known for years. With Food Optimising, Slimming World's healthy eating plan, whole fruit (including bananas, oranges and grapes) can be eaten in unlimited quantities, while juiced, cooked, pureed/mashed, stewed or blended fruit can be eaten in measured amounts as Syns. That’s because we know that altering the composition of fruit makes it very easy to over-consume in a short space of time.  It’s an all too easy way of adding a lot of extra energy, without adding the filling, bulky fibre needed to fill your stomach and satisfy your appetite. 

Think about the time it takes to eat an apple and compare it to the time it takes to drink an apple-worth of juice.  That’s why Food Optimisers reach for the fruit bowl first!

For more information about the fabulous freedom of Food Optimising visit our healthy eating section.

The August/September issue of Slimming World magazine is on sale now!  Don’t miss your complete summer slimming survival guide, neatly packaged into 120 inspiration-packed pages:

Runaway success. Discover how keen runner Lyndsay Zemeiksas lost 5st 12lbs to put her life back on track.  Plus how cover girl Kirsty Wilcox has stayed at her size 10 target for six years!

7-day ‘beach countdown’ eating plan. Follow our super-filling menus for just one week and slip into your swimming cossie with confidence.

A-Z of holiday slimming. Don’t let the annual sunshine break sabotage your weight-loss success. Stay in control on your summer hols with our guide to sun, sea and Syns.

A taste of Italy. Tuck into seven classic Mediterranean dishes – high on colour and flavour, low in Syns. Plus the perfect Slimming World summer pudding, and portable picnic recipes for a delicious day out.

Exercise and the busy mum. Get fit and have fun with your little ones – at the same time! Our easy, family-friendly exercises from top fitness expert and mum, Peta Bee, are perfect when you’re pushed for time.

Visit http://www.slimmingworldmagazine.co.uk/ for more!

According to researchers in Venezuela a study of 100 obese women has shown that starting the day with a hearty breakfast helps to boost weight loss long-term.

The Daily Mail reported: At the end of the study researchers from the Hospital de Clinicas in Caracas found those eating big breakfasts had lost more than 21% of their body weight (compared with just 4.5% for the women eating a small breakfast) and reported feeling less hungry, especially before lunch, and having fewer cravings for carbohydrates.

And, if you fancy a big breakfast each morning, at Slimming World we say go for it!  Our generous healthy eating plan means that your breakfast can always be big!

Pile your plate with lean, grilled bacon, mountains of scrambled eggs, loads of grilled tomatoes, unlimited poached mushrooms and a couple of slices of wholemeal toast.  Add a squirt of tomato sauce on the side if you fancy, and finish off with a bowl of fresh fruit salad smothered in Müllerlight yogurt. 

Don’t believe you’ll lose weight eating all this?  Try our 7-day menu and see the results for yourself!

Here comes the sun – and here comes the July issue of Slimming World Magazine! Dive in and discover how you can shine with our special summer body confidence section – plus much more:

‘Making time for myself helps me look after everyone else’. And taking time out to read Sharron Millen’s story will help you journey towards your target, too. Plus how cover girl Paige Ataou lost 3st and found the way to achieve her dreams.

 

7-day ‘summer slimdown’ eating plan. One week’s menus for wonderful weight-loss results! Try our easy-to-follow and fabulously filling plan.

5 ways to inner body confidence. You don’t have to be at target to have true body confidence.  Try our simple strategies and see your self-esteem soar this summer!

 

Cooking with herbs. Seven fresh and fragrant recipes – high on flavour, low in Syns. Plus the secrets of a perfect Slimming World pizza, and easy-to-make meals for kids who love to help Mum in the kitchen.

 

A fitter, firmer you in 4 weeks. Our summer exercise plans have been put together by experts – but you don’t have to be an expert to do them! Choose your favourite Body Magic activity and see and feel the difference in a month.

 The new issue of Slimming World magazine is available in group and on a newsstand near you on the 29th May.  Don’t miss it!

Researchers at Karolinska Institute in Sweden have recently announced that eating like a caveman can help reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. 

They’re not talking sautéed sabre-toothed tiger or marinated mammoth either!  The stone-age diet included fresh or frozen fruit, berries or vegetables, lean meat, fish, canned tomatoes, lemon or lime juice, spices and coffee or tea, as well as daily portions of potatoes – sound familiar?  They’re all Free Foods when Food Optimising!  

As well as reduced blood pressure, the 20 volunteers who took part in the study lost 2-3 kg over the course of three weeks.  Benefits that thousands of Slimming World members experience month in month out – without giving up their favourite modern-day treats!

When Elaine Gammond, a manager at the Elliman Resource Centre in Slough, Berkshire heard about Slimming World’s referral programme she approached her local Berkshire East Primary Care Trust (PCT) to fund a trial service for people with learning difficulties at the centre.

The PCT already had a Slimming World on Referral programme in place, so they agreed to the extension of the programme. A new Slimming World group was set up in-house at the resource centre specifically for members with special needs who could be referred by their GP. A Slimming World Consultant ran the group with support from the PCT’s learning difficulties care staff. Members, ranging in age from 20-60 attended the group with their carers for 24 weeks.

Slimming World prepared visual aids such as laminated pictures of low energy dense foods (Slimming World’s Free Foods) and packaging to present Food Optimising, Slimming World’s unique, balanced, healthy eating plan. Members were encouraged to eat plenty of Free Foods and to choose healthier meal options. They also took part in Slimming World’s Body Magic programme which encourages small steps to regular activity. The centre arranged activities such as group walks and keep-fit classes which the members embraced enthusiastically. They also started a local beginners’ dancing class and held a Special Olympics day. Average attendance was 19 weeks, weight change was -4.2kg and 55% achieved a 5% weight loss within the 24 weeks.

“Slimming World welcomes members with learning difficulties or special needs accompanied by their carers at our groups,” says Sue Gibson, Business Development Manager (Public Health). “We have produced weight management support literature in Braille and larger print as well as an audio version for the visually impaired and other patient groups.”

If you love summer, you’ll love Simply Summer! Bursting with 50 flavoursome, Free Food-filled recipes, Slimming World’s vibrant brand new book guarantees a taste of sunshine – whatever the weather! 

From sizzling barbecues and perfect family picnics to easy al fresco entertaining, Simply Summer mixes the very best seasonal ingredients with the most satisfying healthy eating plan around – Food Optimising. 

Whether you’re a budding Jamie Oliver or a beginner in the kitchen, you’ll find every occasion on your summer social calendar is catered for – and your friends and family will never guess you’re slimming!

Choose from sumptuous starters and salads, mouth-watering main courses and delectable desserts – all quick and easy to prepare. And, with over half the recipes being Free on one or both choices and the rest having 5 Syns or less per serving, a deliciously slim summer is well and truly on the menu!

Simply Summer is only available at your local Slimming World group.  Join today and enjoy a simply sensational, slimmer summer!

It was the first city in America to ban trans-fats from food outlets. Now New York has set another US first - from today, larger food chains such as McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks must display the calories of their products on menus. The new rules apply to all chains with at least 15 outlets across the country - which in the case of New York accounts for 2,000 restaurants. The city authorities say the reform will help New Yorkers get a better sense of what they are eating as part of the ongoing battle against obesity and diabetes.

Good news for calorie counters – but of course, Slimming World members don’t have to weigh, measure or count with our liberating, flexible healthy eating plan!  And with ongoing group support – sharing ideas for healthy eating out and eating in options that the whole family will enjoy  - AND our brand new Food Directory – giving members the low-down on healthy choices when eating out – weight loss without calorie counting is well and truly on the menu!