Christine Merrigan and Veronica Giudice

(Student Dietitians)

Tayside Nutrition Network

NHS Tayside

Produced August 2011 / Review August 2012

A Guide to Weight Loss Websites

Tayside Nutrition Network

Dietitian ______

13.

The aim of this booklet is to give you information on websites that are available to support and encourage weight loss. It will provide information on a wide range of easy to use websites that will allow you to choose a site that will best suit you and your lifestyle.

The websites within this booklet will provide you with necessary information that will help you to take control of your own weight loss and help motivate yourself.

The booklet will also give you information on the main online slimming groups within the UK.

2.

Trying to choose a website to help you lose weight can be tricky and confusing as there are so many options available. The list below can be used as a guideline to help you choose a website that offers a responsible weight loss advice:

  • Should help you set a weight loss target that is both healthy and realistic
  • It recommends that 0.5-1kg (1-2lbs) should be the maximum amount of weekly weight loss
  • That keeping weight off for the long term requires adopting healthy lifestyle habits that will be used in the long term
  • Avoid sites that offer “quick fixes” or “magic solutions”
  • Should recommend a balanced healthy eating programme that includes all food groups
  • Should recommend regular physical activity as well offering safe and practical advice on how to be more active
  • Should include some behaviour change examples so that you have the tools to deal with high-risk triggers that allow for lapses

Read on for some good examples…

3.

Slimming World (

What is the Slimming World Plan?

The Slimming World Plan aims to help you lose weight by following a low fat healthy diet.

It uses a Food Optimising Plan which allows you to eat unlimited amounts of “Free Foods” such as fruit and vegetables when you are hungry

3 different enrolment packages are available including a bronze package £79.95, a silver package £84.95 and a gold package £99.95 this includes a 3 month membership. Membership thereafter is £20 per month thereafter

Features:

  • 24/7 access to the site
  • Over 1200 recipes and meal ideas available
  • Allows you to set your own weight loss targets
  • Food diaries and exercise trackers allowing you to monitor and achieve your goals
  • Information on exercise and activity programmes to help you get fit at your own pace
  • Weekly weight charts that allow to see your progress
  • Motivation and behavioural support available based on your personal progress

12.

Scottish Slimmers (

What is the Scottish Slimmers Plan?

  • The Scottish Slimmers plan aims to help you loose weight following a positive eating plan (PEP)
  • It involves you making healthier food choices by either choosing healthier meals following the PEP complete plan or counting checks
  • The standard online plan is £39.85. This includes a £10 Joining fee plus 3 months membership at £9.95. Each additional month is £9.95
  • For those who wish to join a class it is £12.95 including your 1st weeks membership. Additional weeks are £5.95, however if you join for 8 weeks a saver pass is available for £36

Features:

  • 24/7 access to the site
  • Access to 250 recipes and meal ideas
  • A personal tracker to monitor your progress online
  • Online users forum
  • Separate plans for males and vegetarians
  • Information on ways to increase your physical activity level
  • Access to other members success stories to help you stay motivated

9.

BDA WeightWise (

This website has been designed by the British Dietetic Association (BDA). It provides information and advice on topics such as diet and exercise. It does not require any membership or registration to the site.

Information to help you decide if BDA WeightWise is for you:

Diet information included:

  • Advice on the benefits of losing weight
  • Allows you to determine what your own personal pros and cons to weight loss are
  • Tips and Information on diet and healthy
    eating
  • Offers a weight loss plans for men and women

Exercise information included:

  • Information and tips on aerobic and strength exercise
  • Advice on how to set and achieve exercise goals
  • Links to physical activity websites

Helps you stay motivated by:

  • Food and activity diaries so that you can keep on track
  • Progress charts where you can monitor measurements like your weight andhow you feel
  • Tips and advice on how to recognise and deal with triggers that encourage unhealthy lifestyle choices

Extras:

  • Body mass index & waist circumference calculator
  • Dietitian’s answers to the most frequently asked weight loss questions
  • Information on how to contact your local dietitian 6.

Healthier Scotland ()

Healthier Scotland is a website created by the Scottish government to help you improve your diet and fitness.

Information to help you decide if Healthier Scotland is for you:

Diet information included:

  • Healthy recipes
  • Ideas for swapping your meals and snacks for similar but healthier options
  • Easy ways to get your five-a-day
  • Facts and myths about healthy eating

Exercise information included:

  • Simple ways to start getting active
  • Allows you to type in your hometown and find activities in your area
  • Tells you about the many benefits of exercise

Helps you stay motivated by:

  • Sharing success stories from other people who used the website

Extras:

  • Does not ask you to register or become a member
  • A BMI calculator which shows you what your weight means for your health and gives you helpful advice based on your BMI
  • How to understand food labels

7.

Weight Watchers (

What is the Weight Watchers Plan?

  • Based on a PRO-POINTS system where food and drink portions are given point values based upon their protein carbohydrate fibre and fat content
  • Involves a weekly PRO-POINTS budget based on your weight, height, gender and age. A daily extra allowance of points is also given, which you can save for a special occasion or to spread it out over the week
  • The Standard Plan is£40.90 for the first month. Membership thereafter is £10.95 per month

Features:

  • 24/7 access to the site
  • Over a 1000 recipes and meal ideas available
  • A guide to help you choose food when eating out
  • A recipe builder to help you to create healthier versions of your favourite meals
  • Information on wide range of workouts for all levels of fitness
  • Tips and information from trainers to help keep you motivated
  • Tips on how to deal with challenging situations when losing weight
  • Access to other members success stories to help you stay motivated
  • Tools and resources available to help you track and monitor your weight and activity levels

8.

NHS Live Well(

Live Well is a website be the NHS designed to help you live a healthy lifestyle. The website home-page includes sections for you to choose from depending on what lifestyle changes you would like to make including; ‘weight loss’, ‘healthy eating’ and ‘exercise’ sections, all of which will help you to lose weight.

Information to help you decide if NHS Live Well is for you:

Dietary information included:

  • How to read food labels
  • How fast you should aim to lose weight
  • The truth about fad diets
  • Tips on how to keep the weight off
  • Healthy breakfast ideas
  • Healthy-eating recipes by celebrities
  • The worst and best food choices when eating out

Exercise information included:

  • Tips on different types of exercise for beginners (including tips from Olympians)

Helps you stay motivated by:

  • Sharing tips on how to keep yourself motivated (including ideas from other members)

Extras:

  • Free registration and membership
  • A BMI calculator
  • An alcohol intake calculator
  • A healthy eating quiz to let you see how healthy your diet is
  • A fitness quiz to let you see how fit you are

11.

Trying to take on a healthier lifestyle or to lose weight on our own can be a difficult task and may not be the right route for everyone. If you think that you need more support or structure with weight loss, then choosing to join an online commercial weight loss programme may be an option for you. Note: some slimming groups may cost money to join. The prices given may be subject to change.

4.

Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs

(

What is the Rosemary Conley Plan?

  • The Rosemary Conley programme aims to help you lose weight by following a healthy balanced diet that is both low fat and Glycaemic index (GI)
  • There are a number of diets option available to help you achieve this including Inch Loss Plan, the GI Hip and Thigh Diet, the Lifestyle Change Plan and the Solo Slim Diet
  • 3 different memberships’ price packages are available: 1 month is £39.99, 3 months is £54.99 and 12 months is £89.00. Membership thereafter is £9.99 per month

Features:

24/7 access to the site

Access to over 1000 free recipes

Weekly online chats hosted by Rosemary and the team of coaches as well as phone and email support

A member’s online support forum.

An optional weight loss budding system between members.

Weight loss challenges and awards to encourage you

Access to articles on weight loss, exercise as well as information on how to deal with special occasions, holidays and eating out

Progress charts that allow you to record your weight loss so can visually see how well you are getting on

5.

Fatmanslim (

Fatmanslim is a weight-loss website designed specifically for men. It aims to help you make small changes yet keep your new way of living similar to your current lifestyle. This allows you to maintain these changes and weight loss.

Information to help you decide if Fatmanslim is for you:

Diet information included:

  • Hundreds of healthy and appetising recipes
  • Healthy eating tips on how food affects the body
  • Advice to help you choose healthier options when eating out – from Italian to the chip shop
  • How to maintain your changes and weight loss over Christmas, weekends and holidays

Exercise information included:

  • What to wear and how to motivate yourself
  • An introduction to different types of exercise

Helps you to stay motivated by:

  • Allowing you to set a daily aim
  • Includes a forum where you can get involved with discussions and gain support from other members

Extras:

  • Free registration and free membership
  • MP3s are available to new members describing how to use the website and get the best out of it
  • Has a BMI calculator
  • Step-by-step instructions on measuring your weight and waist-circumference at home
  • A chart and table allows you to track your progress

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