Half of UK adults say they’ve put off losing weight

GEN Z MOST LIKELY TO DELAY

●        More than one in five UK adults (22%) have delayed losing weight for three years or more

●        Four in 10 (42%) have thought about losing weight at least once a week without taking action

●        38% of people surveyed say they waited for a ‘final straw’ to start losing weight, such as struggling to fit into clothes, feeling unfit and feeling uncomfortable in social situations

●        Now, a new study shows that joining weight loss support group, Slimming World, can quickly restore self-belief, self-confidence and self-determination. Before joining, only 40% of new members believed they could lose weight, but after just one session, this rose to 97%

The rising cost of obesity in the UK has soared from £58bn in 2020 to £98bn^[1], with two thirds of adults being overweight or obese. Studies show children living with obesity are approximately 5 times more likely to become adults living with obesity^[2]. The nation is in a fight for weight loss. 

Yet, there is a much bigger battle – self-belief. People whowant to lose weight are increasingly feeling lost, desperate and hopeless – their self-confidence and self-belief that anything can help them, worn away.

A new survey^[3] of 2,000 UK adults commissioned by the UK and Ireland’s largest group-based weight-loss organisation Slimming Worldreveals 50% of UK adults say they’ve put off even trying to lose weight, with six in 10 of those aged 18-27 (Gen Z) the most likely to delay (63%). More than one in five people (22%) say they’ve delayed losing weight for three years or more, with many saying that has impacted their health and caused them to gain even more weight. 

The survey, carried out independently by Censuswide reveals four in 10 (42%) have thought about losing weight at least once a week without taking action, despite over 2 in 5 being unhappy with their size (43%) and over half saying they know they eat unhealthy food (54%) and seven in ten wanting to improve their health (70%). 

When questioned on why they delayed their weight loss, (38%) of UK adults agreed they waited for a ‘final straw’ before making the decision to lose weight. The most common final straws were: 

1. struggling to fit into clothes (14%)
2. feeling unfit (12%)
3. impacting mood (11%)
4. feeling uncomfortable in social situations (10%)
5. a health scare (8%)

The survey also revealed 48% of UK adults would not consider using medication or weight loss drugs if they were looking to lose weight, compared to less than a third (30%) who would. Worrying about potential side effects was a deterrent for 32% of respondents, 23% say they don’t know what they’d be putting into their body, 21% don’t think there’s enough evidence on the long-term effects and 19% fear it wouldn’t be a long-term solution.

Within the already deafening weight loss arena, weight loss injections add even more confusion, contradiction and uncertainty. The personal conviction and self-determination of people living with overweight and obesity depletes further. 

Renowned Psychologist, Dr Linda Papadopoulos, says: “Delaying weight loss stems from fear of failure and feeling comfortable with what’s familiar. Each time we put off change, we chip away at our confidence, creating a cycle where taking action seems harder and harder.

“Procrastination isn’t just about weight – it reveals our deeper doubts about our ability to transform our lives. One way to make our goals feel more tangible and achievable is by seeking support from people who understand and share the same challenges and aspirations.

“In pulling on the strength that comes from that kind of togetherness we create something powerful – a supportive accountability network that transforms our personal intentions into collective motivation.”

There is good news. There is a way people can win the battle for self, rebuild their hope and optimism, and achieve a healthy, lasting weight loss. 

In new research^[4], which surveyed more than 7,000 new Slimming World members last January, more than two thirds said that before going to a Slimming World group, they didn’t dare dream they could lose weight and stay slim (69%). More than half of the members surveyed said that they’d had feelings of doubt, uncertainty and a lack of motivation and control for more than a year, and for some people 10 years or more. 

However, in just one session, almost every new member left filled with self-belief, self-confidence and self-determination. This switch came from learning more about Slimming World’s health-giving eating plan, seeing the success of other members, and experiencing the empowering support to help them overcome their personal barriers. They left feeling: 

• Committed to their weight loss (98%)
• That they could lose weight and keep it off (96%)
• Motivated to make changes to their lifestyle in order to lose weight (97%) 
• More confident to manage the things that had previously got in the way of them losing weight (89%)

With over a decade of expertise in neurogastroenterology and cardiovascular pharmacology from leading institutions including the University of Sheffield and the University of Nottingham, Dr. Jemma Donovan PhD, Slimming World’s Research Manager, says: “This January, those feelings of doubt, fear and hopelessness could easily lead people to look to weight loss drugs as a silver bullet.

“However, unless they get effective support to make lasting changes to their eating and activity habits, they’re very likely to regain the weight once they stop the medication, and they’re far less likely to experience the sense of personal achievement and the increased self-worth that comes with knowing you’re in control in the long term.

“We also know the costs are high – painful and expensive weekly injections, with possible side-effects of diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, vomiting and more. Furthermore, the long-term safety of the regulated drugs is still unknown.

“Our research confirms what so many of our members tell us. After many years of feeling hopeless, out of control and desperate about their weight, new members quickly experience a powerful shift in self-belief, self-determination and self-confidence, restoring their hope about what they can achieve – without resorting to weight loss drugs or surgery. And that shift happens in less time than it takes to watch a movie!“

¹Tony Blair Institute for Global Change: Unhealthy Numbers: The Rising Cost of Obesity in the UK

² https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26696565/

³The research was conducted by Censuswide, with 2000 Nat Rep Respondents (aged 18+) in the UK between 22.11.2024 – 26.11.2024. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles and are members of The British Polling Council