05/09/2026
When parents adopt healthier habits to lose weight, children may benefit too, study reveals.
Families across Alverstoke, Gosport report they are experiencing the positive ripple effect of parents adopting healthy habits to lose weight after joining their local Slimming World group, according to Slimming World Consultant Sarah Griffin.
New independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), carried out at the University of Bristol and published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Paediatrics Open, found that many parents attending weight management groups reported positive changes in their children’s health behaviours, including increased physical activity and eating healthier food.
Sarah, who runs Slimming World groups in the area, says the research reflects what she sees in her groups every week – that the healthy habits members develop can impact everyone at home.
The survey of 396 Slimming World members with children aged five to 11 found that:
- more than two thirds (67 per cent) who were concerned about their child’s weight felt more motivated to support them after addressing their own weight
- almost half (48 per cent) of parents reported healthy improvements in what their child ate after they joined the weight loss programme
- more than a quarter (27 per cent) said their child had become more physically active
The findings come as experts warn younger adults face the greatest risk of future weight gain. Global studies predict one in three children, teenagers and young adults could be living with overweight or obesity by 2050, and research shows children with parents living with obesity are more likely to develop it themselves.
Sarah says the findings highlight that supporting parents to lose weight may also be an investment in children’s long-term health and may present an opportunity to break cycles of intergenerational obesity. She says: “I see the ripple effect of weight loss in my group every week. Parents often join wanting to improve their own health, yet soon they’re telling me their children are enjoying the healthier meals, the family is being more active together and everyone has more energy. We find community-based support plays a big role in that – when people share ideas, encouragement and real-life experiences, healthy changes are more likely to stick. Whether it’s cooking together, eating more healthily or finding fun ways to be active, those small changes can make a real difference to family life. "
“It’s one of the things I love most about helping people to lose weight – seeing the positive effect it has on those around them too. With childhood obesity remaining stubbornly high, the message is simple: when we help parents make healthier choices, we’re not just improving one person’s health, we’re helping shape a healthier future for the next generation too.”
Improving health and dissatisfaction with appearance emerged as the leading motivations for weight loss among parents, each influencing more than four in five (81 per cent) respondents. Many parents wanted their children to have a healthier future because of the difficulties they had faced themselves with their weight and health.
Improving health and dissatisfaction with appearance emerged as the leading motivations for weight loss among parents, each influencing more than four in five (81 per cent) respondents. Many also reported wanting to create a healthier future for their children based on their own experiences of living with overweight or obesity.
One of the lead researchers from the University of Bristol and Professor in Diabetes and Metabolic Endocrinology Julian Hamilton-Shield says: “This research strengthens the case for putting families at the heart of adult weight management policy and practice. Supporting parents doesn’t necessarily just improve outcomes for individuals – it may positively influence children’s everyday health behaviours such as their diets and activity levels. Weight management programmes that recognise and harness this family-wide benefit might potentially play an important role in creating healthier home environments and improving health outcomes for future generations.”
📍: District Scout Hut HQ, Clayhall Road, Alverstoke, PO12 2BY
🕖: Mondays, 7:15pm
📍: Bridgemary Methodist Church, Prideaux-Brune Avenue, Bridgemary, PO13 0PP
🕖: Thursdays, 5:30pm and 7:30pm and Fridays, 9:00am and 10:30am
📲: 07919 490338
You’ll love Slimming World’s generous weight loss plan and personalised support – the easiest way to lose weight for life! Start your journey today.
