Brits in Denial About Their Weight Fate

alli Research Exposes That Without Intervention Overweight People Could Face a Decade of Dieting, and Social Stigma About Their Weight

LONDON, May 17, 2011 - Overweight Brits are in denial about their weight and continue to eat an
unhealthy diet despite health warnings about obesity, according to new
research by weight loss aid alli*. One in five (20%) overweight people[1]
questioned in Britain said they have never tried to lose their excess weight
at all. Overweight and obese people blamed their excessive weight on eating
too much (54%), eating the wrong foods (49%) and snacking (46%).

The survey of 8,500 overweight and obese people across Europe coincides
with the launch of European Obesity Day's 'Stop Yo Yo' campaign on May 21st.
Further results from the research revealed that almost half (45%) of British
people with a BMI of 28-29.9 have been trying to lose weight for less than 6
months. Dubbed the 'weight loss deniers', they were also the least likely of
those surveyed to have spoken to, or be planning to speak to, a healthcare
professional about their weight.[2]

Serial dieters (BMI 30+)

Results showed that as people's BMI increases they become less likely to
sustain their weight loss: 76% of British women in the BMI 30-35.9 group had
lost weight but subsequently regained it, and this figure rose to 77% in the
group with BMI 36+. By the time people find themselves in these higher BMI
groups they have been stuck in an unsuccessful 'weight loss trap' for longer:
45% of people in the BMI group 36+ had been trying to lose weight for over 6
years.

The research also suggests that years of unsuccessful weight loss
attempts can also have a negative psychological impact, and by the time
people reach BMI 36+ many feel 'blamed and shamed' about their weight by both
society and themselves:

- 50% say people are quick to judge them on the way they look

- A third (33%) resort to 'eating to help themselves feel better'

- By this stage over a third (35%) have spent 10 years or more trying to
lose weight

- 21% are worried people look at them when they're eating and 10% eat
healthy foods in front of people

Holly Turner, UK Brand Director for alli, said of the findings; "We
undertook this research to gain a better understanding of the barriers that
are preventing people from losing weight and maintaining their weight loss
over the long term, and it seems that the bigger the problem, the harder
people find it to tackle successfully. The alli programme encourages people
to make changes to their diet and lifestyle that can help them sustain their
weight loss, but also offers an incentive in the form of the capsule, which
can boost weight loss efforts by 50%, compared to dieting alone. So for every
two pounds you work to lose, adding alli can help you lose 1lb more."

Paula Keogh, who lost a stone on the alli programme, believes her weight
gain was caused by unknowingly eating the wrong foods; "Following the alli
programme taught me to think about the food I was eating as I had to follow a
reduced calorie, lower fat eating plan. I realised that many of the meals I'd
thought were healthy were actually filled with hidden fat, but by making
small changes, such as swapping sour cream for low fat natural yoghurt, I
found I could still enjoy my favourite meals and lose weight."

*ICM interviewed a random sample of 8,500 adults aged 18-64 years old of
BMI 28+ in 17 European markets online and on telephone between in February
2011, including 500 people in Britain. Interviews were made on a nationally
representative basis, and interviews are the result of inbuilt survey filter
requirements. Further information at www.icmresearch.co.uk.

Notes to editors

alli 60 mg capsules are a weight loss aid containing orlistat. For
overweight adults with a BMI of 28 or over. Follow a reduced calorie,
lower-fat diet. Always read the label. Available in pharmacies.

alli capsules are designed to be used with the alli support programme
which supports the individual on their weight loss journey and guides them
towards their goals. The alli programme includes a range of online support
tools on www.alli.co.uk.

alli is a registered trade mark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of
companies.

About EOD

The theme of this year's European Obesity Day (EOD) is 'STOP YO-YO'. The
campaign calls on health professionals and policymakers to help overweight
and obese citizens break the dangerous cycle of repeated loss and regain of
body weight and its dramatic effects on mental and physical health. For more
information go to: www.obesityday.eu

About alli

alli is the first pharmacy-only weight loss aid licensed for use
throughout Europe. alli offers a weight loss programme for overweight people
with a BMI of 28 and over. Used in conjunction with a reduced calorie,
low-fat diet, alli is clinically proven to help boost weight loss by 50%
compared to dieting alone, so for every two pounds you work to lose, alli can
help you lose one more.

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[1] 20% of those with a BMI between 28.0-29.9 said they had not attempted
to lose weight

[2] 65% of those with a BMI between 28.0 -29.9 said they hadn't spoken to
or don't plan to speak to a health professional about their weight

Contact: Jenna Gifford +44(0)20-7025-6511, Jenna.Gifford at redconsultancy.com