By Fionnuala Boyle,Steven Smith

Copyright dailyrecord

Slimming World has announced it will be ditching the term ‘Syns’ after conducting a comprehensive review of its language and terminology. From January 2026, members following Slimming World’s healthy eating programme, Food Optimising, will also benefit from the addition of a healthy fats option , making it simpler to include foods such as avocado and nut butters in their weekly meal plans, with greater focus on the nutritional advantages of these items. Slimming World’s healthy eating plan has been transforming lives for over half a century. The flexible plan is centred around ‘Free Foods’, which are low in energy density, meaning they contain fewer calories per gram and are highly satisfying, allowing you to eat them freely without gaining weight, reports the Mirror . However, the term ‘Syns’ has come under scrutiny over the years for ascribing certain foods with negative connotations. Slimming World’s director admits ‘Syns’ “can be misunderstood or be a barrier for people. Lisa Salmon, Slimming World’s managing director, explained: “Our ethos is – and has always been – about lifting the burden of guilt people feel around food and their weight, and providing a healthy, flexible and realistic way of eating that fits with every lifestyle and can be kept up for the long term. “We’ve had feedback that the word Syn suggested we wanted to make people feel ashamed about eating those higher calorie foods – which couldn’t be further from the truth, reports the Mirror. “However, we recognise the power and impact of words, so while we’ve never wanted to make people feel guilty, ashamed or judged, it was important that we listened and made a change.” She added: “Language matters and we know ‘Syns’ can be misunderstood or be a barrier for some people who want and need support to reach a healthy weight . We want everyone to feel welcome at Slimming World and we hope making this change will help.” There’s an impressive list of more than 350 basic Free Foods that can be eaten to your heart’s content under Slimming World’s weight loss plan, with no need to weigh or measure them. This includes lean meats, poultry, fish, plant-based proteins, eggs, beans, fruit and veg, grains, potatoes and pasta. The plan also encourages dieters to enjoy measured, daily portions of foods containing essential nutrients to ensure a balanced diet – these are known as Healthy Extras. To avoid feelings of deprivation and the temptation to cheat, no food is off-limits and those foods that aren’t Free Foods or Healthy Extras can still be enjoyed in moderation. From January 2026, those foods that are least filling and high in energy density – foods like alcohol, crisps, chocolates or everyday essentials (a bit of butter, sauce or gravy with a meal) – will be referred to as Slimming World Individual Picks, or Swips. These foods are important because being able to enjoy your favourite foods guilt-free makes the plan easier to stick to, enabling members to make lasting changes. Lisa, who joined Slimming World more than three decades ago, went on: “Our methods remain largely unchanged since Slimming World was founded by the late Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE in 1969. “Just like Margaret did, we’re constantly listening to our members, to the consultants who run our groups and to the latest science to ensure Slimming World remains the most effective and realistic way to achieve lasting weight loss. “The weight management industry has transformed in recent years – most notably with the rise of weight loss medications – and we believe the role of lifestyle-based solutions like Slimming World is more important than ever.” Back in 2020, Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE explored the term ‘Syns’ during the Slimming World Podcast. She clarified that it was initially ‘sin’, with the company’s programme once called the ‘Sin-a-Day plan’, designed to ridicule the restrictive diets of that era which dictated what people could and couldn’t consume. She disclosed how she modified the term to Syns (an abbreviation for synergy) to represent the essential equilibrium within the programme during the 2000s as attitudes had shifted and the word was creating confusion. She took part in the latest terminology review, carried out alongside linguistic experts, prior to her death in February 2025. Slimming World is set for a significant overhaul, with the terms Body Magic and IMAGE Therapy being phased out from January 2026. The firm’s physical activity support programme and behaviour change support will be renamed as its active lifestyle programme and support system, respectively. A fresh logo is also in the pipeline for the brand. From the new year, Slimming World will encourage members to include fibre, calcium-rich foods, and healthy fats in their diets. Foods such as nuts, nut butters, seeds, avocado, and oils will be highlighted. Members will be guided to choose three Healthy Extra portions daily from a list of calcium, fibre, and healthy fats options. They’ll be urged to select a variety of Healthy Extras for overall health, including at least one calcium choice a day to increase intake of this vital nutrient. While followers of Slimming World’s plan have always been able to enjoy healthy fats, the introduction of the healthy fats choice aims to emphasise the health benefits of these foods even more. Oily fish, nuts and seeds , and avocado or oils have traditionally been part of the Free Foods, Healthy Extras, and daily Syns allowance, respectively. Lisa explained: “No food has ever been banned at Slimming World and members have always been able to enjoy healthy fats. We hope though that moving these foods to a new Healthy Extra option will increase members’ understanding of healthy eating and better support them to maintain their new eating habits long after they reach their target weight.” This change has been brought in after Slimming World’s programme was reviewed by its Nutrition, Research and Health Department, which includes dietitians, nutritionists and researchers. It reflects modern dietary guidance and seeks to make it even easier for members to fit the programme into their daily routines. Lisa said the changes, which will go live on Slimming World’s website and app from mid-December and be rolled out in its printed member books from December 26, were about making sure the programme stays relevant to modern living. She added: “These updates are rooted in science, shaped by what our members tell us and designed to support people of all ages to lose weight in a way that’s healthy, sustainable and works long term.”