Poll: Britons' weight more influenced by family, friends & professionals than celebrities or politicians
Politicians, celebrities, sports stars, royalty and the media have little influence on people’s behaviour when it comes to weight loss or healthy eating, according to our poll.
Instead, those who people see face-to-face, such as family, friends and health professionals, are far more likely to prompt individuals into making healthy lifestyle changes, the results show.
The findings come as Slimming World launches its Let’s Beat Obesity Together campaign, designed to encourage family, friends and local communities to work together to make their own community a healthier place to live.
- Three out of four people in the UK (74 per cent) think that obesity is ‘a national crisis’.
Yet while the majority see the problem as a national one, it’s clear that most see the solution as local.
- 20% of people chose family, 15% selected friends and 22% said health professionals were the group most able to influence them to adopt a healthier lifestyle
- In contrast, only 1% of people chose politicians, 5% said celebrities and another 5% selected sports stars as most likely to influence them to change their behaviour
- The list was completed by famous chefs and food companies with 6% apiece, the media (3%) and Royalty (less than 1%).
Long term, sustainable weight loss
'Our research clearly shows that people look for advice, support and solutions from those close to them, such as their GP, family and friends, rather than politicians and celebrities,' says Dr Jacquie Lavin, Slimming World’s head of nutrition and research.
'In recent years, the Government has invested heavily in public health messages aimed at encouraging people to lead healthier lifestyles and prevent obesity. We’ve always believed that local groups based at the heart of communities offer the best solution to long term sustainable weight loss. And that’s why Slimming World’s annual Let’s Beat Obesity Together is so successful. Last year it helped people lose 270,000st over a 12-week period.
Positive influences
Jacquie continues: 'When it comes to losing weight, having the support of people who are close to you, who care about how you feel and who can truly understand what you’re going through is key to success. That’s because trust is hugely important when it comes to influencing change.
'In Slimming World’s local community groups, slimmers grow to trust each other and their Consultant who leads the group, so they commit to making changes and work together to develop new healthy lifestyle habits, overcome emotional barriers, swap tips and recipes, and share ideas for getting more active. It’s a great thing as, over time, their trust in themselves and each other grows and grows and that positive influence spreads through their families and out into the community.'
Slimming World’s Let’s Beat Obesity Together campaign launched on February 13th and runs until May 14th.
See the survey details and full results here
