Second Nature logo

US

Weight Loss Programmes

Slimming World® vs Joe Wicks

Tamara Willner
Written by

Tamara Willner

Medically reviewed by

Fiona Moncrieff

5 min read
Last updated March 2024
Share
FacebookTwitter
title

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.

To save you tiresome research and help to answer some important questions, this guide compares two popular weight loss programmes; Slimming World® (SW) and Joe Wicks’ (a.k.a The Body Coach) plan (JW). You have the choice of face-to-face meetings or online plans with Slimming World®, whereas Joe Wicks’ 90-day plan is an online PDF that you can download.

Comparisons to the Second Nature programme are included. Second Nature is a digital programme that helps people lose weight in a healthy, sustainable way, by combining tracking technology with education and support.

Check my eligibility

Trustpilot score

Trustpilot is a platform where consumers can leave reviews and scores reflect overall customer satisfaction.

SW JW Second Nature
Star rating Trustpilot score for Slimming World Trustpilot score for Joe Wicks - The Body Coach 5 stars
Score 2.1 / 5
read reviews
3.9 / 5
read reviews
4.9 / 5
read reviews

Trustpilot logo

Signing up

SW JW Second Nature
Money back guarantee Partial refund if cancelled within 14 days (dependent on the number of days since purchasing the programme) Full refund if cancelled within 14 days. After this point, any charges non-refundable.
Clear breakdown of costs
Clear cancellation policy
Length of programme All plans ongoing Core: 3 months

Graduate plan: 3 months

Ongoing subscription (minimum 12 weeks)
Easy to cancel
Refer-a-friend scheme
Easy to include family

Nutrition

SW JW Second Nature
Dietary approach Low fat Rest days: low carb, high fat.

Exercise days: high carb, low fat.

Lower carb
Caters to vegetarian
Caters to vegan
Supplements encouraged
(other than Vit D)

(including protein powder)

(other than Vit D)

Support

SW JW Second Nature
Tailors the plan around diabetes
Tailors the plan around other health issues
Face-to-face meetings
(if meeting plan chosen)
Access to registered dietitian or nutritionist
Weekend support available

Programme features

SW JW Second Nature
Makes you take numerous body measurements
App
(2 apps, 1 for planning and 1 online access)
Award/prize system
Recipe videos
(Free recipe videos available on YouTube without signing up)
Exercise videos
Weighing scales provided
(on tech plan)
Tracks sleep
Tracks steps
Education of nutrition science
Counting/point system
(Free Foods®, Healthy Extras®, and Syns®)
Food diary feature

Pricing

When programmes provide price plans in different formats, it can be hard to accurately compare prices. To make this easier, we have calculated the price of monthly digital basic price plans on each programme to show you how costs compare (as of March 2021). All admin fees are included in these prices.

For basic monthly plans, Joe Wicks®’ 90-day plan is the most expensive option. On the surface, Second Nature seems slightly more expensive than Slimming World®, however, your personal coach is a registered dietitian or nutritionist, rather than a customer service representative. You also have the same coach throughout the whole Second Nature programme that you can build a relationship with, rather than an ad-hoc response from a different coach each time (Slimming World® and Joe Wicks®).

Registration to a professional body requires a nationally recognised nutrition or dietetics degree. 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).

Monthly (basic) digital subscriptions:

SW JW Second Nature WN
Registered dietitian or nutritionist coach
The same, personal coach throughout the programme
Price £24 / month £42 / month $60 / month £300 / month

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?

Slimming World®’s answer:

“I’m not trained in medical queries I’m afraid, this would be something to ask your Health Care team.”

Joe Wicks®’ answer:

“Eggs are not bad but avoid them if you are worried.”

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 is important to consider what would fit into your lifestyle and help you achieve your goals.
  • Everyone is different and there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss.
  • Joe Wicks and Second Nature are both online programmes, whereas Slimming World® has an optional face-to-face meeting plan.
  • Slimming World® seems to focus on dietary restriction, while Joe Wicks focuses on exercise. Second Nature tackles weight loss from all angles (exercise, nutrition, sleep, mindset).
  • Second Nature is the only programme where you get a registered dietitian or nutritionist personal health coach.
  • Second Nature provides you with an education of nutrition and answers nutrition queries with the most up to date science.
Check my eligibility

You might also like

Make losing weight feel Second Nature

The first step on your Second Nature journey is to take our health quiz.

Hand holding phone

Write a response

As seen on

The GuardianThe TimesChannel 4The Sunday Telegraph
Evening Standard
Metro