A new study has revealed that more than half of UK adults find their weight loss goals derailed by even a single setback, with nearly one in five abandoning their efforts entirely when faced with challenges. The research, commissioned by Slimming World, the largest weight-loss organisation in the UK and Ireland, surveyed 2,003 adults and sheds light on the significant hurdles people face in their attempts to shed pounds.
According to the findings, 77 per cent of adults in the UK have attempted to lose weight at some point, with the average person trying seven times in their lifetime. Yet, setbacks remain a major stumbling block. Of those who had experienced a setback during their weight loss journey, 38 per cent cited hunger as the primary cause, while 29 per cent pointed to stressful life events such as bereavement, job loss, or family illness. Other common reasons for being derailed included missing out on favourite foods (25 per cent) and failing to plan healthy meals (23 per cent).
Temptations in the form of unhealthy snacks at home—such as chocolate, crisps, cakes, and biscuits—were identified by 41 per cent of those surveyed as a key factor in losing focus on their goals. Saturday night takeaways, cakes and pastries bought with coffee, and fast food after a night out were also among the top triggers for setbacks. Alarmingly, one in ten adults admitted that a chocolate Easter egg is the most likely culprit to cause them to stray from their diet.
The study highlights a critical time of day for those struggling with weight loss, with 38 per cent of respondents who have tried to lose weight saying they are most likely to veer off track between 6pm and 10pm. For almost a third (31 per cent) of those who encountered setbacks, it took more than a month to regain the motivation to get back on track.
Dr Amanda Avery, a Health and Research Consultant Dietitian at Slimming World, emphasised the importance of learning how to manage setbacks for long-term success. “As we’ve seen with the results of this research, setbacks on a weight loss journey are to be expected. Things don’t always go perfectly to plan, and that’s life,” she said. “What’s key when this happens is to be kind to yourself. Learning to accept that a setback is part of your slimming journey can help stop you being derailed altogether.”
The survey also found that 24 per cent of adults would like to lose weight, even if they are not currently trying to. Among those who have experienced setbacks, over a third (34 per cent) said they typically encounter three or more setbacks each month. The most popular methods of attempting to lose weight included exercise (69 per cent), calorie counting (49 per cent), and fasting (32 per cent).
The research also involved polling members of Slimming World’s 13,000 community weight loss groups and online programme. Among these members, 82 per cent reported feeling more capable of dealing with setbacks than during previous attempts at losing weight. A significant majority (72 per cent) attributed their improved resilience to the flexibility and support provided by the Slimming World plan.
Professor James Stubbs, an expert in Appetite and Energy Balance at the University of Leeds, agreed that setbacks are a natural part of the weight loss process. “For anyone looking to lose weight, it’s important to remember that this is not a quick fix; it’s a gradual process,” he said. “Learning how to navigate setbacks is what helps people develop the skills needed for lasting behaviour change. Even people who are highly successful at losing weight and keeping it off have setbacks.”
Slimming World’s approach, which combines a flexible healthy eating plan with physical activity support and mindset change, aims to equip members with the tools they need to overcome obstacles and achieve lasting weight loss success.
For more information about Slimming World’s approach visit slimmingworld.co.uk or slimmingworld.ie