Slimming world supporting weight loss injections. Aibu?

[Ontobetterthings]

I see that slimming world is now supporting and welcoming people to groups that do weight loss injections.

I feel that this is quite misleading and unfair to participants not doing injections. I have done slimming world years ago and now do weight loss injections only. I wouldn't feel right going to a group where some aren't doing jabs.

The whole slimmer of week is based on pounds only as well, not percentages. I feel the injections give a big advantage. Also, I dont think this works for a group of people.

Also, when I see huge losses for sw being posted I wonder if its the jabs.

I feel it's gone its all quite misleading and a bit unfair on people who still go to group.

What do you think?

I imagine it’s the only way they’ll stay in business. I think WW basically nearly went under as a huge number of their potential clients now take the jabs.

i used to go to both at various times, i was not very overweight and one of the slimmest people there. I never won slimmer of the week because I didn’t have so much to lose so only ever lost 2/3lb max, whereas some very large people might lose half a stone in a week sometimes. Was that unfair on me? I didn’t go for that anyway, nor take part in the raffle or whatever. I went for the accountability of being weighed, sticking to a healthy eating plan and occasionally new ideas of foods to try.

They are a business, first and foremost, so it makes sense that they would cater to people starting WLI.

People should focus on their own weight loss journey.

The jabs have come up in discussion a few times in my group. As far as I know no one in my group is taking them and our consultant has talked about the side effects and pointed out that many people put the weight back on after stopping the jabs. On the other hand the SW plan helps with changing eating habits, which those who are on the jabs may need support with once they get to target.

People taking the jabs still need to follow a health, calorie controlled diet, w hich is where SW comes in. The jabs don't necessarily increase or speed up your weight loss, they just make it a bit easier by reducing the hunger pangs and making you feel full quicker so you eat less.

Plus as someone has already pointed out. SW and WW need to embrace it otherwise they would lose all their clients and go bust.

I may be biased here as I am convinced SW gave me a very unhealthy approach to eating.

No, I don't think it is unfair. People are prescribed various medications for different ailments, some which can cause weight gain or loss. This is also not factored into "Slimmer of the Week" (which should be banned in my opinion- I won it once after having food poisoning!). You can never create a completely fair playing field for these types of things.

Weight loss injections are here to stay. Businesses have to adapt their model to them, otherwise they run the risk of going out of business.

Also - FWIW - WLI should only be being used to support a healthy weight loss regime (i.e. 1-2lbs per week) and should be used alongside a healthy eating plan. Anyone regularly losing high amount is likely on too high a dose, or just chasing suppression.

Many people put the weight back on when they lose it with SW or WW as well. , I've done it plenty of times 😄

The SW consultant probably shouldn't be offering an opinion in a professional setting about a prescription medication that they aren't qualified to discuss, @MirrorMirror1247

People taking WLI can and do change their eating habits. It's a mystery to me why people seem to think that people continue eating in the same way as before.

SW are a business, they are probably losing customers rapidly in the wake of a successful treatment for obesity in comparison to the endless lose-gain cycle that they in the diet industry are part of.

SW is absolute nonsense. Their low-fat, high carb diets are so out of fashion that they had to do anything to pull in business.

That’s all they are; a business.

Not everyone on jabs experiences quick and easy losses.

I'm still quite hungry and have to work hard for every pound.

I can see why some advice on better ways to eat to maintain as much muscle as possible and not get too saggy might also be favourable.

I guess SW are just trying to survive in a vastly changing market.

Absolutely- i think SW and WW have a regain rate of over 80%.

Definitely.

A few in my family have re-joined so many times that we jokingly refer to SW as 'The definition of madness', as in doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different outcome.

I have too, that's why I'm there! It did work for me first time round so I just need to stick at it!

@SilenceInside I can't say I'm at all bothered about my consultant talking about side effects etc. She's not saying that she doesn't think people should use them, she's just pointing out what she's heard/read. Any one of us could hear/read the same.

SW eating plan is definitely not low fat/ high carb: you’ve been given wrong information, or maybe thinking of a different diet?

@MirrorMirror1247 sure, but you're not employed as a SW consultant. She's not neutral on this issue and she isn't medically qualified to offer an opinion in the role of someone advising you on diet and prescription medication. She should stick to SW's corporate line on WLI and nothing more.

For example, discussing side effects without properly addressing the ongoing risks of remaining obese is not sensible. Neither is stating that many people put weight back on when stopping without discussing that in the context of weight regain in general after dieting. Which is a massive issue that SW and the like have, hence their repeat custom.

They'd go bust if they didn't. They want to accept anyone who'll pay the money and keep coming. They accept people of healthy weight, which you could say was unfair on those who were overweight. So having people on GLP1 is no different. It's a business.

It's a business and they've seen the way the wind is blowing. They did well for many years out of the fact that traditional methods don't work for most people, had a good innings. Now if they want to survive they will have to change.

There are some very odd comments on this thread!

“I feel that this is quite misleading and unfair to participants not doing injections”

Unfair? It’s not a competition! How does it hurt me of someone else at my group loses more?

I also agree with YoungWhipperSnapper the SW diet is absolutely not low fat/high carb, it’s hard to know where you would get that impression.

“Slimmer of the week” is a recognition of consistency, not of who has lost the most in any one week. That’s why you can only achieve it if you have been in class the week before and lost weight. It’s not really a “competition” no one is striving to win it! It’s just a nice way to celebrate someone who has stayed on track. Same with “Slimmer of the month” it’s not about most lost.

As for SW leading to disordered eating ! Everyone in the class has disordered eating, that’s how they gained weight in the first place.

SW recommends filling your plate at least a third full of vegetables with the rest made up of protein and a smallish amount of carbs.

They recommend cooking from scratch, drinking enough water, increasing your in take of fruit of vegetables, making sure you get enough protein and sensible amounts of healthy fats and calcium. The plan is perfectly healthy and balanced.

The reason people cycle back through SW and WW is not that there is anything inherently wrong with the plans, it’s that people with disordered eating often fall back into disordered eating and then have to start again.

There is no fail safe lose it once and you are done for ever way to lose weight.

The diet industry is worth billions and it (along with private bariatric surgeons) have taken a huge hit because of WLIs. It’s the biggest threat to their throne that’s ever happened.

Most of these diets are based around satiety - what can you eat and still feel satisfied and reduce cravings. I’ve done SW on and off for years but it seemed to be around bulk eating - larger quantities of low calorie foods. Basically if they’re going to survive, they’re going to have to flex. Weight Watchers has already done it - I’m on MJ and I use their app in GLP1 mode.

I don’t think it’s about fairness. You’ll probably lose weight if you do SW with or without the jabs but it’ll be much easier if you do it with!

Some ppl need the support of a group even if they are on MJ .

How is it “unfair” on over weight people? .

How am I negatively impacted by some nice lady with 10lbs to lose joining my class?

The nice lady is doing exactly what you should do, nip the problem in the bud early.

I honestly can’t get my head round people thinking injections are cheating or weight loss is a competition. Why on earth would it be unfair to anyone else , as said irs not a competion, you’re all there for the same reason

Really? Didn’t it used to be you could eat as much plain pasta and potatoes as you liked?

It kind of is with all the free food nonsense.

It makes sense to me to prevent them going out of business.

People need to stop treating weight loss like some weird competition and concentrate on their own.

Exactly this.

Though I can actually understand if someone following the traditional SW plan doesn't find it helpful to be around WLI users. But the market goes where the money is.