What is Slimming World on Referral?

What support does Slimming World provide to health professionals who want to run a Slimming World on Referral scheme?

How can I discover more about running a local Slimming World on Referral scheme?

What evidence is there to support the scheme?

Have any Slimming World on Referral schemes been set up since the study’s completion?

Are there any other cost implications that the NHS should take into consideration? e.g. out of hours hourly rate, travel expenses, staffing, auditing.

Are there any costs to the patient?

Are you able to give advice on dietary and lifestyle information reflective of diverse populations – gender, age, ethnicity, cooking ability, and budget?

What monitoring information is available to the NHS?

Q: What is Slimming World on Referral?

A: Slimming World on Referral is a partnership opportunity between health professionals and Slimming World, the leading weight management organisation, established in 1969. It is a new and exciting solution to the problem of providing patients with effective, lasting support for weight loss.

Slimming World on Referral offers NHS professionals subsidised packages of Slimming World membership giving you the opportunity to refer patients to a local Slimming World group for ongoing support in healthy weight management, at no cost to themselves.

The Slimming World on Referral service includes patient referral packs, staff training, administrative costs and regular audits of patient progress.

For further information on our Slimming World on Referral service click here. Slimming World on Referral brings many benefits to patients and health professionals.

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Q: What support does Slimming World provide to health professionals who want to run a Slimming World on Referral scheme?

A: To assist in the running of referral schemes Slimming World can provide:

• Special referral voucher packs similar to those already used by Slimming World members to ensure that people attending through Slimming World on Referral schemes are not made to feel different to any other members.
• Appropriate training of Slimming World Consultants and participating practices to ensure effective co-ordination of referral schemes, appropriate use of vouchers, commitment to the initiative, and that patients will feel comfortable in attending the group and recognised as regular members.
• Information about local Slimming World groups and contacts.
• Regular referral scheme audit.

Slimming World offer NHS teams the opportunity to purchase Slimming World on Referral voucher packs for membership, plus 12 weeks' attendance at a cost of £49.50 per patient.

Slimming World recognises that the resources and requirements of NHS teams are varied. We welcome the opportunity to discuss ways in which we can tailor the referral scheme to provide the greatest support to the overweight and obese patients registered with your practice.(click here for more information)

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Q: How can I discover more about running a local Slimming World on Referral scheme?

A: Contact a member of the Slimming World on Referral Partnership Team for further information or fill out the enquiry form here. (pop-up window)

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Q: What evidence is there to support the scheme?

A:

• The scheme was pioneered by Slimming World and Southern Derbyshire Health Authority
• The initial research study investigated the feasibility, practicalities and cost-effectiveness of referring patients from Primary Care into Slimming World groups1 (click to go to reference).  As well as helping patients lose weight, significant improvements in mental well-being were reported after 12 weeks.  Over 70% of those completing the free 12 weeks also went on to fund themselves.  The service was shown to be far more cost-effective than drug treatment and also less expensive than many in-house options. 
• Almost 15,000 patient places have been purchased to date
  • Data from the first 2,100 members to finish 12 week programme
    • 34% were considered to be morbidly obese
    • Average attendance was 9.4 weeks (of 12)
    • 64% completed the programme (10 of 12 weeks)
    • Average weight loss of completers was 5.5% (4.2% across total population)
    • 55% completers lost ≥ 5% body weight (39% of total population)
    • Non-completers attended an average of 5.6 weeks and lost 2.1% of bodyweight

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Q: Have any Slimming World on Referral schemes been set up since the study’s completion?

A: Several referral schemes have been set up since the study began with a number of PCTs and Sure Start teams across the UK working in collaboration with Slimming World at local and national levels.

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Q: Are there any other cost implications that the NHS should take into consideration? e.g. out of hours hourly rate, travel expenses, staffing, auditing:

A: No.  The prices given are inclusive of patient referral packs, regular reporting, staff training and all administration costs to Slimming World.

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Q: Are there any costs to the patient?

A: There are no costs to the patients during their referral period.  Membership packs are included in the referral package, containing all necessary literature.  Additional recipe books and magazines are available for purchase at the groups but these are not essential to participate in the programme.  Copies of all resources are also available to look at within the group.  If a patient decides to continue to attend their Slimming World group after the referral period, no membership fees are required. The weekly group fee is currently £4.50. Members reaching their self-selected personal target weight can attend their Slimming World group free of charge for as long as they wish whilst remaining with 3lbs of their target weight.

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Q: Are you able to give advice on dietary and lifestyle information reflective of diverse populations – gender, age, ethnicity, cooking ability, and budget?

A: The most important Slimming World resource is the group support which is designed to meet the needs of the local group. Individual groups very much reflect the needs of the local community in which they are situated, multi-cultural groups are therefore the norm in multi-cultural communities.  Slimming World Consultants are themselves a member of the local community and the Consultant facilitates group discussion and sharing of ideas which will be applicable to the local population. There is a strong emphasis on sharing favourite recipe ideas and discussing local stores’ special offers. There is promotion of basic cooking skills rather than reliance on convenience foods and general cooking tips are shared. Our advice and literature take cost, cultural preferences and cooking ability/ limited time for cooking into consideration. We also publish Convertible Cuisine cookbook which makes use of leftover ingredients. Many groups have men as members and indeed some mixed groups are run by male consultants. Slimming World also encourages family members to attend together to provide additional support.  In addition to those arising from local group discussions, a wide range of member recipes from all cultures are published on the Slimming World web-site and shared within groups.

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Q: What monitoring information is available to the NHS?

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