Jacquie Lavin, BSc (Hons) MMedSci PhD RNutr, Slimming World's Partnerships Manager & Nutritionist

After gaining her masters degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Sheffield in 1993, Jacquie stayed in Sheffield as a researcher at the Centre of Human Nutrition, investigating the effects of carbohydrate on appetite control.

Jacquie obtained a PhD in 1998, and has presented her work at a number of national and international conferences. She has published several academic journal papers and was involved in the preparation of a distance learning Masters degree course in human nutrition and supervision of Masters student research projects on appetite regulation. She became a Registered Nutritionist with the Nutrition Society in 1999.

Jacquie joined Slimming World in 1998 as in-house nutritionist and also co-ordinates Slimming World’s research programme. As a member of the initial steering group she helped develop and the Slimming World on Referral study and now manages Slimming World’s partnership work with health professionals.

A member of the Association for the Study of Obesity, the Nutrition Society, the British Feeding and Drinking Group and the Nutritionists in Industry Group, Jacquie has become a regular contributor to the popular press, including Men’s Health, Woman's Own, Best, Zest, Top Sante, Woman, Woman's Weekly, Bella, Sunday Mirror, Sunday People, The Express and Daily Record, advising on nutrition and slimming issues.

Amanda Avery, BSc (Hons), Ad Dip Diet, SRD, Slimming World on Referral Partnerships Co-ordinator

Amanda Avery has worked in Southern Derbyshire for the past 16 years as a dietician with the community nutrition service. This service has a remit of working with all age groups and Amanda has chaired the Infant Feeding Policy/Under Fives Nutrition Group for a number of years.

Whilst retaining a small clinical workload she has, over the years, specialised more in promoting health and community initiatives and in co-ordinating an annual nutrition training programme for local professionals.

In 2000 she was seconded to the Public Health Directorate in Southern Derbyshire Health Authority to concentrate on developing a strategic framework for tackling obesity. Her report, Tackling Obesity in Southern Derbyshire – A Framework for Action, is a result of that secondment.

Amanda is now back with the community nutrition service, working as the community dietitian with the South Derby and Derbyshire Dales Primary Care Group. Amanda joined Slimming World in September 2001 to project manage the Slimming World on Referral study; a role which has expanded to Slimming World on Referral Partnership Co-ordinator.

Dr. James Stubbs PhD, Slimming World's Research Officer

Award winning obesity researcher Dr James Stubbs joined Slimming World in August 2006 as Research Officer to continue his work seeking practical solutions for successful weight control.

The focus of James’s work for over 20 years has been the physiological and psychological responses people have to diet and exercise. He is particularly interested in identifying the key factors that make people susceptible or resistant to diet induced obesity.

James joined Slimming World after 13 years at the Rowett Research Institute where he was Principle Scientific Officer. While there he conducted large-scale human trials into weight control and obesity.  He has carried out over 50 studies on different aspects of eating behaviour, appetite control, diet composition and energy balance. James joined Rowett in 1993 after receiving his Ph.D. from Cambridge University and gaining a Glaxo Junior Research Fellowship.

Currently James is working on defining the difference between successful and less successful slimmers focusing on improving methods to help weight control among consumers. His research specialises in large multi-disciplinary projects involving simultaneous measures of eating and activity behaviour in the context of energy balance. He is currently managing part of a cross-European research project, Diogenes (Diet, Obesity and Genes) which is examining how to prevent weight gain and regain among families and individuals in eight countries, including Britain.

Caryl Richards, BSc (Hons), Slimming World’s Managing Director

Having graduated from Leeds University in 1976 with a BSc in Food Science, Caryl joined the Research & Development Division of Cadbury's Schweppes in North London on an accelerated management training programme in Food Research and Technology, New Product Development and Marketing.

During her 12 years in the food industry she worked in and headed a number of technical teams responsible for Food and Drink developments in the UK and overseas, her final appointment being International Product Development Manager for Schweppes International Ltd.

Following a career break to start a family, Caryl joined Slimming World as a member in 1991. She very quickly became a Slimming World Consultant, running a group in her home town of Peterborough while developing Women Back to Work initiatives for Greater Peterborough Training and Enterprise Council. She was promoted through Slimming World's field management structure to her current position of Managing Director, which she has held since 2001.

She has first hand experience of the problems of overweight and broad experience of implementing weight management services at local, regional and national levels. She has developed and delivered recruitment and training programmes for the 2500 slimming World Consultants who operate the 5500 slimming groups in local communities across the UK and for the 200 team managers and 40 senior managers whose role it is to monitor service levels and to further develop the skills of the Consultants in their geographic area. This work includes development and implementation of advanced cognitive therapy techniques in helping slimmers make the significant changes necessary to lose weight successfully and develop sustainable healthy, active lifestyles.

Caryl develops Slimming World policy in line with Government guidelines and latest research findings in the field of obesity, its psychology and its treatment (much of which is funded by Slimming World) and implements programmes in key commercial and public health areas such as Slimming World on Referral through the NHS, development and dissemination of a data base of 40000 branded food products according to their nutrition profile in relation to weight management, supermarket guides to provide information to slimmers and help them make healthier choices when shopping, cooking and eating. Slimming world is the only national weight management organisation to have developed policies for children and pregnant women and Slimming World was the first (over 30 years ago) to base their healthy eating programme for slimmers on individual choice without the need for obsessive calorie counting, food supplements or meal replacements of any sort. The programmes are based on everyday healthy foods and exercise routines with a practical family-friendly approach to help shift the balance towards a healthier lifestyle for all the family.

Caryl is personally and directly involved in working to develop a cohesive approach between Slimming World, primary care organisations, public health policy makers, researchers and specialists in obesity and nutrition, food manufacturers and food retailers.

Carolyn Pallister, BSc(Hons), Slimming World’s Nutrition
& Partnerships Co-ordinator

Dietitian Carolyn Pallister joined Slimming World full-time in 2006 having graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with a first in Dietetics in the same year.

Carolyn’s final year research project was done in collaboration with Slimming World in which she piloted some of the methods to be used in the pan-European Research Programme, Diogenes.  Slimming World is an active partner in Diogenes which aims to advance understanding of how obesity can be prevented and treated from a dietary perspective. 

Her studies also involved a number of clinical placements in which she gained experience in the Nutrition and Dietetic services in Central and Greater Derby PCT, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and Rotherham Foundation Trust. Early in her course Carolyn completed a non-clinical placement at Slimming World when she joined the nutrition team for 6 months. 

Carolyn’s appointment adds further depth to Slimming World’s nutrition department.  She will have responsibility for offering dietary information and advice to the company, checking latest nutrition research and carrying out some of Slimming World’s own research projects as well as contributing to the ongoing Diogenes project.

Andrew Hill (CPsychol), Slimming World’s advisor on the physiological aspects of slimming

Dr Andrew Hill is a Chartered Psychologist and Senior Lecturer in the Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences at Leeds University School of Medicine. He is coordinator of undergraduate teaching in Medical Behavioural Sciences, and is involved in the postgraduate training of Clinical Psychiatrists and Clinical Psychologists. He is also research supervisor of several postgraduate doctoral students.

In 1988, Dr Hill became an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, and he is currently Chairman of the Association for the Study of Obesity and an Associate Editor of the British Journal of Clinical Psychology. He has published over ninety academic journal papers and book chapters, and his research interests relate to nutrition, obesity and eating disorders. Current research activity focuses on the psychology of shape and weight concern in children and adults; self-esteem, self-appraisal and overweight; and food cravings, aversions and appetite control.

Read more about Andy’s research interests and publications at Leeds University’s Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences website: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/lihs/psychiatry/staff/hill.asp

Professor Ken Fox, Slimming World’s advisor on exercise and health

Professor Ken Fox is Head of Exercise and Health Sciences at the University of Bristol, and is dedicated to promoting the field of exercise and health. His major research interest is in the psychology of exercise, and his book, entitled The Physical Self: From Motivation to Well-Being (Human Kinetics, 1997) was the first of its kind within the field.

Ken also developed the Physical Self-Perception Profile which is now translated into 9 different languages and used world-wide. He has also recently co-edited a book entitled Physical Activity and Psychological Well-being (Routledge, 2000), and has produced over 150 research and professional publications in the area of exercise and health with particular emphasis on motivational and health psychology.

He has been a member of the Association of the Study of Obesity Executive Committee since 1991, a member of the British Nutrition Foundation Task Force on Obesity, and serves on the expert panel for the National Audit Office study of Obesity. Ken is also a Fellow of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, the UK Physical Education Association and an International Fellow of the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education for his contributions to the field.

Read more about Ken’s research, publications and teaching at Bristol University’s Department of Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences website: http://www.bris.ac.uk/enhs/people/ken-fox.aspl

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*References on this page:
1 Lavin et al. Feasibility and benefits of implementing a Slimming on Referral service in primary care using a commercial weight management partner. Public Health (2006) 120, 872-881.