Weight loss programmes can provide a helpful structure for your health journey when you feel out of control with unhealthy habits. They can also be a great way to join individuals going on the same journey, which can be incredibly motivating.
Everyone is different, and there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to choosing a weight loss programme. It ultimately depends on what suits your individual needs and what fits into your lifestyle. Some people want rigid rules and a quick fix, whereas others like more flexibility and a long-term lifestyle change.
This guide compares three popular online weight loss programmes; GetSlim (formerly, Rosemary Conley), Scottish Slimmers, and Second Nature. All programmes are designed to help you lose weight.
At Second Nature all the health coaches are registered dietitians or nutritionists. This means they’ve completed university accredited degrees (level 6). These degrees are regulated to maintain high standards by professional bodies such as the Association for Nutrition (AfN) and The Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). You’ll have private one-to-one support with your health coach for expert advice, support, or just a little motivation when you hit a bump in the road.
GetSlim coaches have varied qualifications. The minimum is Level 2 in Nutrition, however, some coaches may be qualified up to Level 5.
Ratings and reviews
Both Scottish Slimmers and the Second Nature programme use an app to help you keep on track. We’ve looked at reviews from the Apple App Store to see how customer satisfaction compares across each programme. The GetSlim app isn’t available from the App store, so we’ve used Review.io instead.
| Scottish Slimmers | GetSlim | Second Nature | |
| Star rating |  |
 |
 |
| Score | 2.6 / 5 read reviews |
3.6 / 5 read reviews |
4.8 / 5 read reviews |
Signing up
| Scottish Slimmers | GetSlim | Second Nature | |
| Moneyback guarantee | No cooling off period or refund once the service has been activated. | Refund if cancelled within 2 weeks.
If you have progressed beyond the initial 14 days your membership will expire at the end of the current period paid for. You can also upgrade and downgrade at any time. |
Full refund if cancelled within 14 days. After this point, any charges non-refundable. |
| Clear breakdown of costs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clear cancellation policy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Length of programme | Depends on your weight loss goals – monthly, quarterly, and yearly options available | Plans start from 21 days | Ongoing subscription |
| Easy to cancel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Refer-a-friend scheme | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Easy to include family | ✓ | Dependant on your chosen plan | ✓ |
Nutrition
| Scottish Slimmers | GetSlim | Second Nature | |
| Dietary approach | Low calorie | Although programmes vary, they all focus on lower-fat | Whole foods, lower carb* |
| Caters to vegetarian | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Caters to vegan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
**For examples of recipes on the Second Nature programme, see here.
Support
| Scottish Slimmers | GetSlim | Second Nature | |
| Tailors the plan around diabetes | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tailors the plan around other health issues | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Private chat with a registered dietitian or nutritionist | ✗ | ✗ (Coaches have qualifications but don’t have to be registered*) |
✓ |
| Developed by dietitians, nutritionists, and health psychologists | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Weekend support available | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Phone support available | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
*Coaches at GetSlim are only required at minimum to hold a Level 2 in Nutrition. Some are also qualified fitness instructors.
Programme features
| Scottish Slimmers | GetSlim | Second Nature | |
| App | ✓ | Online App portal, not available from the Apple App Store | ✓ |
| Recipe videos | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exercise videos | ✗ (Free exercise videos available on YouTube without signing up) |
✗ | ✓ |
| Weighing scales provided | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ (on tech plan) |
| Tracks sleep | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tracks steps | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tracks exercise | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tracks water intake | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Education of nutrition science | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Requires calorie counting | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Food diary feature | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Meal planning tool | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
Pricing
When programmes provide price plans in different formats, it can be hard to accurately compare prices. To make this easier, we’ve calculated the monthly basic price plans of each programme to show you how costs compare (as of April 2022).
Weekly face-to-face sessions with a registered dietitian or nutritionist can be very expensive (£40-£100/hour). We have added a column representing this to compare costs (Weekly Nutritionist – WN).
Scottish Slimmers is a self-guided programme. There’s no option to have a coach or join a community group. Additional eating plans are available, but these will be charged on top of the monthly subscription. With GetSlim, you do have coaching options but GetSlim coaches have varied qualifications and are not registered dietitians or nutritionists. The minimum is Level 2 in Nutrition, however, some coaches may be qualified up to Level 5.
At first glance, the Second Nature programme may seem more expensive. However, the cost includes private access to a registered dietitian or nutritionist, your digital peer support group, meal planning and journaling tools plus steps, weight, and habit tracking technology.
Monthly (basic) digital subscriptions:
| Scottish Slimmers | GetSlim Standard Plan | Second Nature | WN | |
| Private chat with a registered dietitian or nutritionist | ✗ | ✗ (Coaches have qualifications but don’t have to be registered*) |
✓ | ✓ |
| The same, personal coach throughout the programme | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price | £6.99/month | £13/month** | %ONGOING_MONTHLY_PRICE%% /month | £300/month |
*Coaches at GetSlim are required at minimum to hold a Level 2 in Nutrition, some coaches may be qualified up to Level 5.
**If you choose to commit to a longer GetSlim subscription, the cost per month decreases.
Example nutrition query response
Nutrition is a major part of any weight loss journey. Therefore, it is important to receive accurate and reliable nutrition advice. We asked each programme a common nutrition-related query to see how the information provided as an answer compares.
Q: Are eggs bad for your cholesterol? Should I avoid them?
Scottish Slimmers’ answer:
“Support is provided for subscribers. You should consult a medical professional if you’re concerned about cholesterol. Hope that helps.”
GetSlim’s answer:
“I’m afraid the social media team is unable to provide specific dietary advice via this page. However, if you join please do message our friendly coaches who will be able to discuss this topic with you further.”
Second Nature’s answer:
“Eggs are a rich source of dietary cholesterol. It was previously thought that cholesterol-containing foods increase blood cholesterol and the risk of heart disease and strokes. However, this has not been shown to be the case as dietary cholesterol is poorly absorbed from the digestive system, and if cholesterol is absorbed, the body will produce less of it to balance out (and prevent blood cholesterol levels rising). Therefore, you do not need to be restricted unless recommended to do so from your GP/Healthcare professional. Eggs are among the most nutritious foods on the planet providing good quality protein as well as being loaded with vitamins and minerals.”
Take home message
- When choosing a weight loss programme, it’s important to consider what would fit into your lifestyle and help you achieve your goals.
- For those who find face-to-face weight loss meetings uncomfortable or inconvenient, online programmes are a better option.
- Scottish Slimmers, GetSlim, and Second Nature are fully online.
- Second Nature provides a registered dietitian or nutritionist personal health coach, whereas GetSlim coaches are not required to be registered with a professional body.
- Scottish Slimmers and GetSlim offer a clear guide of foods to eat or avoid, however, the focus is on reducing calories and daily weigh-ins, which might not benefit those with an unhealthy relationship with food.
- Second Nature provides you with an education of nutrition science, allowing you to make informed decisions yourself and develop a healthy relationship with food in the long-term.
- With Second Nature, you’ll have one-to-one support from qualified experts who’ll be with you every step of the journey
