Slimming World – October 2025

Summary

Slimming World October 2025 (Issue 189) features Kenny Higgins on the cover — "Kenny's second chance: How my 22st weight loss saved my life" — alongside dance teacher Allie Richmond, who lost 6st 7.5lb and appears as a real-life cover star. The issue promotes autumn-friendly food, including air fryer pizza pockets and a mix-and-match meal plan, with the autumn tagline "Ease into the season with fabulously filling food."

The "Up Front" section (p.11-12) opens with air fryer pizza pockets and Allie's transformation story. "Be Inspired" (p.20-36) features fakeaway recipes from Thai to Japanese cuisines (p.20), Kura Burrell's 4st 4lb loss (p.24), the power of group support (p.28), Mary Riley's wedding weight loss at 80 years old (p.31), and Janine Taylor's 7st 8lb loss (p.32). "Eat, Love & Lose" (p.40-80) is the issue's largest section, with comfort-food classics (steak and chips, Sunday roast, veggie cottage pie), the mix-and-match meal plan (p.50), fuss-free family meals (p.61), food news (p.69), and Diwali-inspired desserts (p.80).

"Mind, Body & Soul" (p.90-112) features a self-discovery test on eating habits (p.90), Kenny Higgins' full story at 22 stone lost (p.96), a breast cancer prevention article (p.103), a tribute to Slimming World founder Margaret Miles-Bramwell on letting go of guilt (p.104), Diamond Member Sarah Williams' 10-year maintenance story (p.108), and a surprising ways to get stronger piece (p.112). The issue closes with competitions, subscription offers, and the Things I Know Now column.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story

p.96 · Losing 22st Has Given Me a Second Chance at Life
Kenny Higgins, Slimming World's Greatest Loser title winner, describes losing 22 stone (140kg) through Food Optimising and walking. He recounts the moment his GP told him he would not see 50 if he continued gaining weight. The interview covers his mindset shift from "dieting" to "living differently."

▸ Member Stories

p.12 · Allie's Back in the Picture
Dance teacher and mother of two Allie Richmond lost 6st 7.5lb (42kg) and moved from avoiding cameras to appearing on the cover. She describes the first time she danced after weight loss — and felt her knees not hurt. Readers who have let weight stop them from performing will recognise her story.

p.24 · There's No Stopping Me Now
Kura Burrell lost 4st 4lb (27kg) and shares the specific turning point: a holiday photo in which she did not recognise herself. She now trains for a 10K run — something she had never done at any weight. Her training plan is included as a sidebar.

p.108 · How Sarah's Stayed Slim for Life
Diamond Member of the Year 2024 Sarah Williams celebrates 10 years of maintaining a 6st 10lb (43kg) loss. She shares her non-negotiable daily habits: weighing herself every Monday, always having a Free Food breakfast, and never skipping her weekly group. Maintenance-focused members will find this more valuable than another loss story.

▸ Practical Advice

p.90 · What's Driving Your Eating Habits?
A self-discovery quiz with 12 scenarios mapping to psychological eating drivers: boredom, stress, habit, reward, social pressure. Each result links to a specific stay-on-track strategy from the magazine's archive. The quiz takes 5 minutes and yields a personalized reference code.

p.112 · Surprising Ways to Get Stronger
A strength-training primer for Slimming World members who associate exercise only with walking. The article covers resistance bands, bodyweight squats, and wall push-ups — all doable at home with no equipment. The "start with 5 repetitions" approach targets complete beginners.

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Editor's Take

This is a strong autumn issue built around two compelling member stories — Kenny's 22-stone loss and Allie's cover-star transformation — that honestly depict the physical and emotional weight of severe obesity. The "Power of Being Together" article on group support is the issue's most underrated feature, explaining the psychology that makes Slimming World's group model work. The weakness is the "Breast Cancer and You" article: a worthy topic, but at 2 pages it offers only generic lifestyle advice that members will have read elsewhere. The fakeaway feature (p.20) is well-timed for autumn takeaway cravings. The Diwali-inspired desserts (p.80) show cultural awareness that the magazine has sometimes lacked. Issue 189 is a solid, member-focused package.

Strengths
• Kenny Higgins' 22-stone loss story is genuinely powerful
• Group support article explains why the SW model works
• Diwali desserts show improved cultural range

Weaknesses
• Breast cancer article is too brief to be useful
• Fakeaway recipes are mostly repeats from previous issues

Verdict: Recommended — A classic Slimming World issue anchored by two of the magazine's strongest member stories of the year.