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by kevinwilson ^Pro @ 2009-09-30 – 17:08:54

the average weight of people who join weight watchers has gone up by two stone.

does that mean people are putting it off for longer?
or has our 'weight expectancy' increased in line with life expectancy - in other words, people are living longer, so maybe there is more time and opportunity to put on weight.

i suppose what we really want to know is whether weight watchers is keeping pace with demand and managing to deliver a higher level of weight loss.

i know it is a sensitive subject for some, but doesn't it all suggest that weight watchers isn't having much impact?
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16 Comments to heavy

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- brokendownangel ^Pro
- 2009-09-30 @ 17:21:37
none of these places really works longterm, it is all about changing bad eating habits, we all know it yet we can't be bothered to do it. I think they are good clubs for people with the same problem to get together, but they don't really offer a solution - just ask the thousands that go back time after time x
- - kevinwilson ^Pro
  - 2009-09-30 @ 19:15:46
  i suppose it's like everything else - it's down to the individual, really. but if it helps some people, that's ok.
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- Floatyflowers ^Pro
- http://www.cherylturtlemoon.com
- 2009-09-30 @ 17:28:24
I wonder if its just that people are now waiting till they REALLY don't like their weight before they go, because as far as I can see weight watchers is quite expensive, but maybe people are waiting until they feel they really need some help before they go.
- - kevinwilson ^Pro
  - 2009-09-30 @ 19:16:51
  maybe it's just that, if reports are to be believed, more and more people are getting overweight and it's somehow more acceptable?
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- Bushka ^Pro
- Bushka
- 2009-09-30 @ 20:53:44
You're not supposed to be going to a 'weight watchers club'...are you?
- - kevinwilson ^Pro
  - 2009-09-30 @ 22:08:00
  no, i need to put weight on
  - - Bushka ^Pro
    - Bushka
    - 2009-10-01 @ 09:53:24
    So! Is there a group for 'Putting Pounds'?
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- menhir
- http://www.myword.blog.co.uk
- 2009-09-30 @ 21:32:30
You make good points. All slimming/fat clubs work on the basis of failure, that's how they stay around to continue what they do.

One point is that we are heavier framed, taller etc than we used to be. Some, not all the additional weight, will be because of this anthropological development.

The other questions are, what previous research of theirs, is WW comparing it with and what was its extent, factors, research measures, etc.

All that said, we are being exhorted to eat healthier, lead more active lifestyles and cost ourselves less in health bills by reducing from the obese to the acceptable weight levels and measures of today. The measures, did not always include BMI.
- - kevinwilson ^Pro
  - 2009-09-30 @ 22:09:38
  good comment, menhir.
  it would be interesting to compare BMI over the years.
  - - menhir
    - http://www.myword.blog.co.uk
    - 2009-09-30 @ 22:30:08
    BMI is a relatively recent addition to weight measurements, say about decade or two. Early weights were much more crudely defined on height shoe size (sometimes) and expectation.
    
    I have known more unscrupulous or less helpful class leaders to give inappropriate or impossible target weights to would-be slimmers, ban people from attending if they did not do xyor z within a certain short time frame. Think of the damage that could do.
    
    Times have changed. I haven't seen that for a long time. Mind you, I haven't been to a group for a very long time either.
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- Barmac
- http://backpain.blog.co.uk
- 2009-09-30 @ 21:52:26
Ooops !!! think I'm going wrong here - I joined Slimming World two months ago and not losing much yet so I think I'd better go back to the drawing board.
- - kevinwilson ^Pro
  - 2009-09-30 @ 22:07:18
  good luck!
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- deleted user (Visitor)
- 2009-09-30 @ 22:39:21
I say whip those fatties into shape. Weight Whippers is the way of the future; Weight Watchers are just neutral observers from now on.
Call me un-PC.
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- ravingmad
- 2009-10-01 @ 00:53:19
I wonder if it might have anything to do with the easier availability of fashionable clothes in larger sizes. Years ago if you were more than about a size 16 there just weren't any decent looking clothes available, so people went to weight watchers etc because they felt unattractive when they found that all that would fit them were shapeless styleless tents. Now you can walk into any clothes shop and there are masses of sizes 18,20 and even higher on the rails, in all sorts of styles, so overweight people can still feel attractive.
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- Neonjake
- 2009-10-01 @ 02:42:51
Oh go eat a donut.
jake
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- pompeycaulkhead
- 2009-10-01 @ 12:12:23
Mt mother goes and thinks its the best thing since Guinness. I cant see it. Its expensive and humiliating if you dont keep losing. Good exersize and rationing McDonalds to once a week is all you need!!!!!!!!
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