Slimming World was the subject of criticism after initiating changes to their diet routine
A highly-regarded nutritionist said that the new programme is due to “damage our relationship with what we eat.”
Dieters who follow Slimming World’s plan are allowed select ‘free’ foods, but everything else must be considered in the ‘Syns’ count.
Until this change, ‘free’ foods had included select pasta meals and certain snacks.
A spokesperson for Slimming World said: “We frequently review the products we hold on our food databases.
“As part of this process, we’ve recently taken a closer look at the ever-growing range of pasta and noodle snack pots and sachets that are now readily available and decided that these are not filling and satisfying enough to be classified as Free Food on our Food Optimising eating plan.
“As a result, and to protect our members’ weight losses, some products that were previously free will now have a small Syn value – of between half Syn and three Syns.”
Member Response
Many members of Slimming World did not react well to this change, and a nutritionist even spoke out saying why she believes the programme is no longer advisable.
She said that by naming select foods as ‘Syns’, it contributes to the anxiety surrounding eating.
A leading nutritionist, Rhiannon Lambert, for Harley Street said to The Independent, “The diet industry just fuels feelings of guilt and shame, it’s no wonder we have an obesity problem and a rise in eating disorders!”
Lambert thinks that the company is “vilifying” these foods and classifying certain products as either bad or good
“Those lucky enough to have never strayed into eating disorders or struggled with their weight may not see it this way but for the ones who are supposed to benefit most from this Slimming World system, those who eat too much or not enough, labelling foods is a negative and guilt-ridden idea.”