Millions Fall Off Healthy Living Bandwagon by 'Flab-ruary the First'

LONDON, February 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

February identified as month when UK feels fattest so Weight Watchers is 'surround sounding' the UK at 11am on 1st February to motivate everyone to kick-start a healthy lifestyle

Researchers* have discovered a new phenomenon which has been dubbed 'Flab-ruary' - the month when people feel unhappiest with their weight and lifestyle thanks to broken New Year's resolutions and not shifting post-Christmas pounds.

New YouGov research for Weight Watchers reveals that almost half (41 per cent)** of Brits have ever made a New Year's resolution to lose weight and 35 per to eat more healthily - but by today (February 1st) almost 10 million of us*** (24%) have already broken one or more of our New Year's resolutions.

Weight Watchers has discovered that in 'Flab-ruary', size is definitely 'weighing' on people's minds, with one in ten (10%) feeling depressed about not being able to keep their weight-loss resolution and 11 per cent feeling bad about not fitting into their clothes thanks to festive overindulgence.  In fact one in seven (14 per cent) say they are worried about putting on more weight in 'Flab-ruary' and 8 per cent are reflecting on not hitting their target January weight target.   

In a bid to get the nation back on track, Weight Watchers will be 'surround-sounding' the UK at exactly 11am today on 'Flab-ruary 1st' - the first time of the day we are likely to give in to temptation** - with a anthemic song to motivate everyone to kick-start their healthy lifestyle.  Choirs of Weight Watchers members and buskers will perform in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol, leading a live UK-wide sing-along. The initiative even see's nationwide retailers ASDA and Debenhams and LA fitness gyms getting on board by blasting out the song at 11am.

The research has also discovered that 'Flab-ruary' also has a knock on effect on self-esteem, as one in three (34%) say that breaking their resolutions has led to unhappiness with themselves, almost a quarter (24%) feel angry with themselves and one in five (21%) believe they have failed themselves.

Lucy Vickers, Weight Watchers nutritionist, says 'People make resolutions because they want to feel better about themselves but end up feeling lower than when they started by setting unrealistic goals.

"This is why Weight Watchers is encouraging people to take this second chance by making February 1st the new January 1st and surround-sounding the UK with our motivational song - the time to make resolutions they can keep with the right support to help them kick-start a healthier lifestyle and see positive results that last way beyond the start of the year.'

The lyrics of the song 'Do It Our Way (Play)', that will be sung on Flab-urary 1st, are inspired by the feelings of happiness and confidence from real life Weight Watchers members who all lost weight and star in the current TV ad alongside Alesha Dixon.

For more information please visit: http://www.weightwatchers.co.uk/2012resolutions

*Researchers here refers to Weight Watchers, not YouGov

*All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2069 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 20th - 23rd January 2012.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
 
Base: All UK adults who would ever make a New Year's resolution to lose weight/ eat less (n=1299)

    Mid-morning (9am to 12pm)                      18%
    Afternoon   (2pm to 5pm)                       23%
    Evening     (5pm to 9pm)                       46%
    Late night  (9pm and 12am)                     22%

**Population figures generated from 2010 ONS population estimates, ie all adults aged 20 plus in the UK x .2375

Notes to Editors
* The Weight Watchers ProPoints plan takes all the best nutritional science from around the world to provide members with a simple to learn, flexible counting system that helps guide people towards healthier more satisfying food choices. Weight Watchers is the first organisation to offer a better, more accurate and flexible weight management formula than the outdated method of calorie counting.
 
ProPoints plan 2012 has some fab new features to make the plan even more liveable and even more fun.
 
NEW - Easy Start meal planners get your weight loss off to a great start.
NEW - Relaxed Counting Days so you can stay in control with our Filling & Healthy option while taking a break from counting when you're super busy or just letting your hair down

Weight Watchers, the game you play to lose weight
http://www.weightwatchers.co.uk / http://www.facebook.com/weightwatchersuk / twitter @ww_uk

SOURCE Weight Watchers