Latest news with #slimming
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Slimming World manager say groups needed more than ever
A SLIMMING World manager from Carlisle says slimming clubs are needed more than ever despite the growing popularity of weight loss medication. While the arrival of weight loss injections like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have changed the weight management landscape, Emma Davies, who runs groups at Carlisle United's Brunton Park, claims the drugs will 'never replace' weight-loss methods based on lifestyle changes. Emma became a Slimming World member in 2013 after realising she'd avoided having fun in the pool on holiday with her boys because of how she was feeling about her weight. She went on to lose 3-and-a-half stone over the next couple of years and, with hindsight, said she realised that not staying for support had an impact on her weight loss journey and knowing how to sustain her target weight. Sadly, Emma's dad was taken ill and passed away in November 2016 and she stopped going to group to be able to support him, quickly regaining the weight she'd lost. She found the necessary strength to start again in January 2017 and has been at her chosen target weight ever since - and credits that to staying to group. Two members of the Longtown group, Craig Richardson and Ken Forsyth, both joined Slimming World in January 2025. Both men joined for health reasons following close family and friends having heart attacks – they took the wake-up calls seriously. Before and after of Craig (Image: Supplied) Craig said: 'It's incredible to think back to those times looking at me now. Since joining group I've lost 8 stone 6-and-a-half pounds and I love that I've lost weight eating healthy everyday food that my family can enjoy too. I love the home cooking aspect – everything has a freshness and I love batch cooking. "My wife also loves the meals and the fact I now do all the cooking – meals like lasagne and beef curry are firm favourites. I was committed to changing my mindset and being in my group each week has helped me to think about food and my relationship with it differently. READ MORE: Criteria warning to patients as NHS Mounjaro rollout begins "It was tricky at first but now it comes naturally – being prepared is key. I've increased my physical activity too – I now enjoy walking, going to the gym, running, golf and I've even got back into rugby. "My health has improved massively – I have diverticulitis and flare ups have almost stopped; I've reversed my non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and I no longer have social anxiety - all thanks to my healthier diet and lifestyle. The support I've received has helped me to make my healthy new habits part of my daily life.' Before and after of Ken (Image: Supplied) Ken said: 'Being part of the Longtown group has been crucial to my success. Each week, I'd get a boost of motivation, fresh ideas and support from Emma and the other members which helped me to tackle challenges and kept my commitment strong. Having a good friend attend group with me has made it all the easier to stay focused. The accountability of the weekly group is important for me too – you often don't realise how well you're doing until people say so, and with the encouragement of others, I was able to stay on track week after week. "I do all the cooking at home and I love that my family can all enjoy the same family favourites like chicken curry and beef stroganoff. In the past I've rewarded myself with crisps and chocolate for losing weight – these days I reward myself with fresh strawberries and raspberries which in all honesty I enjoy more." Activity has become an important part of Ken's healthier lifestyle too and he now enjoys walking and golf – his knees are feeling the benefit of losing weight too – and he has much more energy to keep on top of the gardening. Emma said: 'While, of course, we know and our members are living proof that lasting weight loss can be achieved without drugs, we also understand that when you're desperate to lose weight, it can be tempting to try something new that promises instant results. "The truth is though there's no magic bullet – losing weight and maintaining that weight loss requires change. "Weight loss drugs need to go hand-in-hand with making changes to your diet, activity and mindset. They're not a replacement for those changes.' Mounjaro is an antidiabetic drug which lowers blood sugar levels and slows down how quickly food is digested. Earlier this week, GPs across England were given the green light to start prescribing Mounjaro for the first time, opening up the treatment to hundreds of thousands more people. About 220,000 people are expected to receive the jabs through the NHS over the next three years. It has raised the prospect that supermarkets could start to see a more pronounced dip in grocery sales. Those on the treatments consume as much as 30 per cent fewer calories, research has found. Weight loss drugs like Mounjaro have been hailed as transformative in some quarters. Estimates suggest around 1.5 million people in the UK are already taking weight loss drugs, which may have been prescribed through specialist weight loss services or via private prescription. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'Obesity is now one of the leading causes of ill health, costing the NHS billions. Yet we now have the science, technology, and knowledge to end the obesity epidemic, if we seize this opportunity."
The Sun
03-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Banishing my belly with £550 fat freeze was so painful I nearly collapsed but was worth it after losing 6cm from waist
AS a roll of frozen fat the colour and shape of an extra large hot dog is forcibly massaged back into my stomach area I think, just for a second, that I may actually pass out. My legs kick in the air as aesthetician Sadaf Jaffari massages and tries to defrost the fat cells in my tummy that she has just frozen to an icy four degrees. 8 8 The aim is that those dead cells will slowly but surely over the following few weeks pass into my bloodstream and be excreted from my body through my lymphatic system. Hey presto, a flat stomach for the first time in over a decade. I was having a slimming tweakment called CoolSculpting. It was the same one that stunning, leggy supermodel Linda Evangelista had – but bits of her body actually ended up FATTER. But after a lot of research, I decided this non-surgical, non-invasive fat reduction treatment really was the one for me. I have always been an 'apple'. My legs and arms are decent, but as I've got older the weight – and fat – has piled on around my middle. Although I'm far too old for a bikini, I did fancy the idea of having a flatter and even slightly toned stomach again, so I could wear some figure-hugging outfits. I've had Botox with celebrity favourite Sadaf for many years. She's a woman I trust and is so experienced with this treatment that she has been dubbed the 'CoolSculpting Queen'. Inside the horrifying High St beauty firm butchering patients in dirty rooms with dodgy liposuction, fillers and BBLs At her clinic in London's Chelsea, she explained how the body-contouring and fat-reduction treatment has changed since supermodel Linda had it. Three years ago, one of the most photographed women in the world revealed that she had been left 'permanently deformed' and 'brutally disfigured' from the fat freezing procedure. She suffered paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), a rare side effect where fat cells expand instead of shrinking. Linda had 'full-body liposuction' procedures in 2016 and 2017 to try and remove the hardened fat. So you would think I was nuts to even attempt to have this. But Sadaf explained how there was a new newly designed machine which provides better skin contact and more effective cooling. There is still a risk of PAH, but it's minimal. My hour-long session cost £550 and kicked off with a rather embarrassing photo shoot. I had to strip to my undies and stand sideways as her assistant snapped pics of my bulging tummy. 8 8 Instinctively, I wanted to suck it all in, but that would have defeated the whole point. Sadaf then soothingly agreed that I was a great candidate. Which meant, in polite terms, I had plenty of pinchable fat. I lay back on a bed in her clinic and she drew around an area of my muffin top before spreading over a heavy gauze with a thick jelly texture. Then she grabbed the CoolSculpting 'head', which was a 30cm long and 10cm wide contraption attached to a large machine by a tube. She laid the head on top of the gauze pad. And that's when the fun really started. The machine began to make sucking and gulping noises as it suctioned my fat up and away into the gadget – and started to freeze it. I sensed an intense cooling sensation for around two minutes, which might not sound very long, but it felt strange. And for the first time I started to wonder what on earth I was actually doing there. 'Just give it a couple of minutes,' Sadaf assured me. 'And then you won't feel a thing.' She was right of course, all of a sudden everything went completely numb. If I am honest, it was all quite pleasant. I just lay there, scrolling on my phone. I FaceTimed a friend, did a bit of work and happily daydreamed of my new toned and honed physique. But the relaxed vibes were short-lived. Half an hour later, she was back to start the hideously intense massage. Sadaf is petite – tiny in fact – but she is stronger than she looks and defrosting the crystals is agony. The relaxed vibes were short-lived. Half an hour later, she was back to start the hideously intense massage 'This is the most important bit,' she said. 'This is how you get the best results.' But I was warned to be patient. I had to wait several weeks before I started to notice those eagerly anticipated results. And in the meantime I had to be brave and learn to deal with the strangest of sensations. First off, the area felt entirely numb. 8 8 Because the device freezes fat, the nerves under the skin also get a chilling blast and it takes a while for them to come back to life. It looked bloated and swollen, but if I touched it, flicked it or squeezed it as hard as I could, I felt nothing. Absolutely no sensation at all. Zilch. And I was fine with that. But then, after about ten days, the itching started to creep in. And boy did it itch. Imagine an army of angry ants crawling slowly but surely all over your torso. After speaking to Sadaf, she suggested taking antihistamines. The itching is often a result of the body's inflammatory response to the fat cell damage. As I am prone to an allergy or two, I had plenty of tablets at my disposal. After taking them for a couple of days, the itching subsided. On the upside, at least I knew that the weirdness meant it was working. Unlike the surgical procedure liposuction, that removes fat through a suction technique, the results aren't immediate or dramatic. CoolSculpting is a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment and it can take months for results to show. SMOOTHER STOMACH But now, ten weeks later, I can definitely see some. The whole area around my stomach is smoother and less flabby. You can visibly see that there is less fat there. I recently went on holiday and could wear a tight dress without having a bulging gut. I even asked The Geordie – my husband, who is a man of few compliments – if it looked any flatter and he agreed it did. Result! And the tape measure even shows results too. At a recent health check up I discovered that I've lost 6cm off my waist in the past year. And I know there's zero chance of that being down to sit ups or knocking Sauvignon Blanc on the head! I am planning to have another round of CoolSculpting – when I have saved up for it, because it does cost £550 a go – as there is no limit to the number of treatments you can have. You just need to wait for a couple of months in between them. Obviously the quicker route to achieve fat melting is the surgical one, but the risks and costs are so much higher and CoolSculpting really is something you can have during your lunchtime. So – unless you want to tell the world about it, as I have just done – it can be your own little secret.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Slimming group wins top UK award thanks to Port Glasgow 'boy done good'
A Port Glasgow slimming group has won a prestigious UK award at a glittering ceremony. A PORT slimming consultant has won a prestigious UK award at a glittering ceremony. International Convention Centre in Birmingham. Joe Glancy's local group were crowned Slimming World's Group of the Year 2025 at the big bash in Birmingham - beating off competition from more than 11,500 groups and 4,000 consultants across the UK and Ireland. The group's members, who meet every Saturday at St Mary's Episcopal Church in Port Glasgow, have lost more than 400 stone between them this year. (Image: Slimming World UK) (Image: Slimming World UK) (Image: Slimming World UK) Joe, 51, said: "It is such big deal. When I heard Port Glasgow being called, I nearly died. "And then having to make a speech to 1,000 people was very emotional. As far as I am aware I was the first ever Scottish winner. "A lot of Scottish consultants were there wearing their kilts and waving the Saltire. It was a great atmosphere." Contributed Contributed Joe, of West Woodside Avenue, is no stranger to awards, also collecting the the group's prestigious gold award for the third year running. The dad-of-two started with 13 members, and the group now has around 250. For more information visit Joe also enjoyed an all-expenses holidays to Athens with his wife Elaine in May as part of the nomination for Group of the Year. He said: "I can't express how grateful I am. The trip included a trip to the Pantheon and Acropolis, Greek dancing and cooking lessons, a visit to the Olympic Stadium and the Temple of Poseidon, finished off with a cruise on the Aegean Sea with the best consultants in the company. "To follow this up with winning UK Group of the Year against 4,000 consultants in the UK and over 7,500 groups and having to do a speech to over 1000 people - bearing in mind this is in oor wee Port - is testament to the incredible members, my friends, that come to me every Saturday morning. "I love them all so much and am proud to help in whatever way I can." OTHER NEWS: Newark Trusts launches one-off grants to groups to improve premises 'Uninhabitable' Greenock flat to become holiday let after 'significant' renovation Caring brother is scaling highest peaks in UK after his sister's battle with sepsis The Port Glasgow Group were awarded the title based on the group's outstanding quality in a number of key areas. This included members' incredible weight-loss success, the vibrant and inclusive atmosphere of the group, members' success from their very first week, close friendships and the consultants' ability to encourage and motivate the group. On average, the Port Glasgow group's members average first week weight loss is over 4lbs with some members losing as much as 11 or 12 lbs in their first week. Joe, lost 5 stone with Slimming World himself before becoming a self-employed consultant, alongside his full time job in EE, achieving his target weight after the premature passing of his dear friend. Joe said 'I'm absolutely over the moon that we've won. Every member in our group is an absolute star as well as my friends. "They have worked so hard to transform their own lives while cheering on and supporting their fellow members, "Real friendships have been formed, and I am so lucky they trust me to help - especially listening to my terrible patter every Saturday morning! 'I truly believe I have the best, most rewarding, role in the world and having our incredible group recognised with this award makes it even more special." Joe also says there is no quick fix to weight loss but that support is there for anyone who is on weight-loss medication. Joe said: 'There's so much buzz at the moment about weight loss drugs, but the truth is there's no magic bullet when it comes to losing weight and, most importantly, keeping it off. "It requires real change, to build long term healthy habits and understand and change your relationship with food. "My members know that it's possible to lose weight – and maintain that weight loss – without these injections, and their incredible transformations inside and out, right from their very first week, are proof of that. "However, we also understand the appeal of interventions like weight loss jabs when you're absolutely desperate to lose weight, so we'd never judge anyone for taking them. "Everyone is welcome to get support at our group. 'It's the support we provide at Slimming World that sets us apart. We focus on equipping members with lifelong tools and support to lose weight and keep it off. "With every milestone reached, you see their confidence grow and their lives change along with their clothes size." Joe's Port Glasgow Slimming World group, which is also the biggest in the UK, takes place every Saturday, with sessions at 7.30am, 9am and 10.30am. For more information contact Joe on 07944340609
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Forget needles, fat-jab PILLS are here: Why they're cheaper, how much weight you could lose & the side effects revealed
EVERYONE'S talking about fat jabs - the 'miracle' injections trimming inches off waistlines, and helping turn the tide on the obesity epidemic. But what if there was an even easier - and cheaper - way than Ozempic -like injections, Wegovy and Mounjaro? Science sits still for no slimmer and already, the next big thing is looming large on the horizon - and it could be as simple as popping a pill. Slimming tablets have been around for decades, but now scientists want to harness the new momentum in obesity medicine - and use the billions being made from the jabs - to bring pills back with a bang. Professor Jason Halford, of the European Association for the Study of Obesity, tells Sun Health: 'I think pills will eventually replace injections. 'People don't particularly like them and they're a bit afraid of injecting themselves. 'You've got to have the device, the needle, the sharps bin, it's got to be refrigerated, there are all sorts of challenges. 'If you can move it all to a tablet you can increase acceptance and hopefully it will be cheaper and become more widely available.' Professor Richard Donnelly, editor of the medical journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, and clinical adviser at online weight loss clinic Juniper, agrees. 'Thirty years ago weight loss tablets had a terrible reputation and nobody really wanted to prescribe them,' he adds. 'They had rare but severe side effects and weren't particularly effective. 'Now there is a whole flood of development and a lot to be optimistic about. Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons 'There is a big hope that developing pills will improve accessibility and cost less.' There are several pills in development - some stimulate the same hormones as jabs to make us feel full, while others mimic bariatric surgery. The end goal is the same - to do what willpower alone fails to achieve and stop us eating so much. While some are yet to even be trialled in humans, one has already been submitted for approval in the US, meaning they could be available before the end of the year. 4 The most advanced pills being made are by the same companies behind the fat jabs. Novo Nordisk, creator of Wegovy and Ozempic, has developed a tablet version of semaglutide, the active drug in those injections. It applied for approval from the US Food and Drugs Administration last month. Trials showed patients lost an average of 15 per cent of their bodyweight over 17 months on a 50mg daily dose, compared with eight per cent over 12 months on Wegovy. Participants were three times more likely to achieve 'meaningful' weight loss when they were taking the pill, compared to those not taking the tablet. Rival company Eli Lilly, which makes Mounjaro (tirzepatide) announced the results of its pill orforglipron in April. The two drugs both work by stimulating GLP-1 hormones that make you feel full. What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs? Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects. Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include: Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts. Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea. Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset. Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation. Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort. Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss. Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating. Serious side effects can also include: Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon. Thyroid tumors: There's a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic. Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin. Patients taking 36mg of orforglipron lost eight per cent of their bodyweight in 10 months, equating to 1st 2lbs from an average starting weight of 14st 3lbs – while participants taking a placebo lost just 3lbs. It compares with 15 per cent weight loss in a year on Mounjaro. Lilly said their pill 'could be readily manufactured and launched at scale for use around the world'. But injections and pills have not been compared head-to-head yet. Studies are ongoing and taking the science behind these game-changing jabs and applying it to tablets, does not guarantee success. Pfizer abandoned the development of its drug lotiglipron in 2023 when a trial indicated potential liver damage as a side effect. Drugs tend to be more easily absorbed by the body when they are injected directly into the bloodstream, compared to being digested through the gut. And that's another key consideration - what the potential side effects of these new pills could be. Unpleasant side effects were the downfall of the old generation of slimming pills. 4 The NHS has prescribed a pill called orlistat for years, dishing out £12million worth of it in England last year. It works by preventing the gut from absorbing fat from food - but it means fat must be passed out in poo instead of digested. This can lead to flatulence, more regular bowel movements and diarrhoea. It can also cause bladder pains and breathing troubles - and weight loss doesn't match up to the jabs. About eight in 10 patients suffer at least one side effect when using injections, most commonly tummy upset, according to trials. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. Early data suggests pills might have similar rates. Around six per cent of people taking any of Lilly or Novo Nordisk's pills or injections quit the medicines because of side effects. Dr Leyla Hannbeck, of the Independent Pharmacies Association, says: 'The old generation drugs tended to be uncomfortable for a lot of people whereas these new ones are much more effective. 'All medicines will have side effects but the fact that the results are much better now means people are more willing to endure them.' Prof Donnelly said he still does not expect new tablets to be as strong as jabs, adding: 'I don't think anybody believes these will cause the same level of weight loss that you might be reporting with Mounjaro. 'The flipside of that is that major weight loss might not all be good. 'Some of that might be muscle and if you lose 30 per cent of your body weight that is a fairly major transformation. 'Having an oral agent that reduces your weight by, say, 10 or 15 per cent, might actually be more sustainable, better tolerated and medically safer in some respects.' While the GLP-1 tablets are likely to be first to market, inventors are also working on a daily pill that mimics the effects of gastric bypass surgery. 'GASTRIC BYPASS' PILL US company Syntis Bio's offering, named Synt-101 creates a 24-hour lining in the gut that means food cannot be absorbed in the top six inches of the small intestine. Rather, digestion is redirected to the lower areas of the gut, where hormones that tell the brain we are full, are triggered faster. Working in a similar vein to surgery, it means patients feel fuller faster - and the lining is passed when the patient goes to the loo the next day. Synt-101 has passed its first human safety tests and is expected to enter a full-scale clinical trial next year. Another pill in development, Sirona, is made by UK-based Oxford Medical Products, and contains a 'dual polymer hydrogel' that expands in the stomach when it comes into contact with water. It works like a gastric balloon, filling the patient's tummy making them feel full for hours, but is passed in their stools 'several days' later. Early data from an NHS trial found patients lost 10 to 12 per cent in a year of treatment and there were no serious side effects. Experts believe weight loss pills will serve a variety of purposes - as a follow-on treatment after stopping fat jabs, as an option for those who can't or don't want to use jabs and for people with less severe obesity, and less weight to lose. There are hopes they will be less toxic than injections, which often cause side effects like stomach aches, vomiting or diarrhoea. Weight regain after treatment is also an emerging issue with the jabs, which can currently only be prescribed for up to two years in the UK. Rahul Dhanda, chief executive of Syntis Bio, said: 'Patients don't want to be stuck on a revolving door of injections and their side effects; they want to be on a manageable and sustainable weight loss path. 'Oral drugs that are simple, tolerable and safe will be the rational choice for maintenance therapy.'
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Losing 12 stone changed my life', says Lincoln woman
A woman from Lincoln who lost more than 12 stone (76kg) in a year without using weight loss drugs is setting up her own slimming club to help Hyde, 30, previously weighed around 22 stone (139kg) but after starting a diet last April lost a total of 12 stone and 9lbs (about 80kg).She said her success was down to "filling up on fresh foods rather than takeaways" and increasing the amount of exercise she did."There were definitely tough times, but I've had a hell of a lot of support around me, which keeps you motivated," she added. Ms Hyde, who turned 30 in October, said she was motivated to do something about her weight after being diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - which she said meant she may never be able to have her own she said in order to get any support she would need to have a healthy body mass index (BMI).She told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "I thought I need to get cracked on - I'm turning 30 and I've got these issues." Prior to losing weight, Ms Hyde, who works as a head chef, said she would not leave the house very often and would avoid looking in mirrors."I would hide away," she said."Nowadays, I'm walking out the door with a smile - enjoying getting dressed in the morning - going shopping," she added."It's been a life-changer for me."Ms Hyde said she could now enjoy horse riding again and taking part in events, including Race for said she now wanted to help others in a similar situation and has set up her own Slimming World group at the Moorland Park Methodist Church in Lincoln, with the first session taking place on 24 June."If I can help at least one person then it will be worth it," she added. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
