Our Group Leaders
The Weigh-Less groups are run by former overweight members who are trained, and have the empathy, care and passion to support our members on their journey to goal weight.
Since 1975
The Weigh-Less Story
Weigh-Less was founded by Mary Holroyd, a former overweight person, in 1975. Mary herself lost 29kg. The first group opened in Durban, South Africa, where 8 members initially joined.
"I founded Weigh-Less in 1975 on all the values and support that I wanted to receive as an overweight person trying to lose weight. I wanted a live-able, do-able and affordable eating plan founded on sound nutrition principles so that I knew whatever weight I lost, it was done in a healthy, sustainable way. I wanted to create an environment where members could come and feel secure and supported on their journey to goal weight – and I wanted our groups to be led by former overweight people who had empathy and who could support our members individually, and as a group. These are the foundations I built Weigh-Less on."
50 Years Of Growth
Our Milestones
Weigh-Less has continued to grow since our first group opened. Here are some of our milestones.
- 1978 — Weigh-Less held the first Slimmer of the Year Event.
- 1979 — The first Weigh-Less Cookbook was published, selling over 100,000 copies. Weigh-Less opened the first group in Gauteng, and launched our first endorsed product.
- 1980 — Weigh-Less's second endorsed product was launched — the Slim Slab, now called the Slim Bar — a range that continues to grow today.
- 1981 — Weigh-Less launched the world's first high-fibre Eating Plan on 7 September 1981, and opened groups in the Free State.
- 1982 — Weigh-Less opened groups in the Eastern Cape.
- 1983 — Weigh-Less opened in the Cape.
- 1984 — Weigh-Less launched the first Weigh-Less magazine for sale in shops. Our recipes and success stories are now available electronically on social media.
- 1985 — The Heart Foundation offered to endorse our eating plan; Weigh-Less was the first product endorsed by the Heart Foundation.
- 1988 — Despite one of the initial members being a man, Weigh-Less's first Slimmer of the Year, Hector van Aart, won the title.
- 1989 — A Weigh-Less franchise opened in Mauritius.
- 1991 — Weigh-Less won the International Best Trade Name Award, awarded in Spain.
- 2001 — Weigh-Less separated the men from the ladies, holding our first Man of the Year event.
- 2005 — The Weigh-Less Plus Club launched, with debit order payment and extra benefits for members who paid by debit order.
- 2008 — The Weigh-Less Steps 2 Success Plan was introduced with new key research concepts — Glycaemic Load and Formula Splitting — and Carb Control was introduced to support members who are insulin resistant. Another South African first.
- 2010 — The Weigh-Less Steps 2 Success Plan was updated, introducing the unique concepts of Profiling and Re-balance to the South African market.
- 2012 — The Weigh-Less Way Plan launched, focusing on members' weight-loss journeys, lifestyle diseases, and educating further on Good, Better and Best food choices, formula and member profiling. Our members' in-group experience continued to be a focus through continual training, in-group evaluations and member support and service, as we continued to live up to the values that built our company in our dealings with members and staff alike.
- 2013 — Weigh-Less was awarded status as the only weight management company recognised as an endorsement entity by the South African Department of Health.
- 2014 — The Weigh-Less Best for You Eating Plan was introduced, with a greater focus on insulin-resistant members via our Carb Control formula.
- 2019 — myWeighLess.co.za launched, giving active members access to additional online support, motivation, recipes, videos and success stories.
- 2020 — Weigh-Less groups moved online, with Group Leaders supporting members via WhatsApp and video chat.
- 2022 — Post-COVID, Weigh-Less continues to offer online groups as well as in-venue groups to support our growing membership.
Our Mission
Every member reaching their ideal weight, the Weigh-Less way
While a lot has changed over the years, our core values and principles remain the same. Core to Weigh-Less is our Weigh-Less Trilogy, putting our members at the centre of everything we do.
What We Do
Our Weigh-Less Trilogy
The Group Experience
A space for our members to come together and share experiences and coping strategies, to be educated and motivated in a trusting and caring environment.
You, Our Member
Our members are central to all we do at Weigh-Less — member needs drive the focus of everything we do.
The Weight Management Programme
Designed to cater for each member's individual needs, formulated under strict dietary guidelines and principles to ensure members lose weight the healthy way.
The bottom line is losing weight is not easy, but the results you receive will largely reflect the quality of the method you use. Weigh-Less has long been considered one of the healthiest ways to manage your weight by health professionals and the public alike.
See How Weigh-Less Works