THE founder of weight loss company Slimming World Margaret Miles-Bramwell has died aged 76.

Miles-Bramwell died on Sunday morning surrounded by her family in Majorca after she had “touched the hearts and changed the lives of millions of people”, the company said in a statement.

Slimming World managing director Lisa Salmon said: “Margaret steered her ship in the way she lived her life – with a generous spirit, passionate conviction, a wicked (and rebellious!) sense of humour and a fierce belief in doing the right thing.

“Our job now is to continue to keep her legacy alive by doing the very same thing.”

Sixties pop singer Jess Conrad said in a post on X that he was “devastated” by the death of Miles-Bramwell, who was “a dear friend for many years”.

Miles-Bramwell founded the company which focuses on a diet of Food Optimising in a church hall in Derbyshire in 1969.

The company pioneered the first-ever NHS weight management referral scheme in 2000, allowing health professionals to refer overweight patients to Slimming World groups to manage their weight.

The programme encourages dieters to swap high-fat foods for low-fat foods that are naturally filling.

Miles-Bramwell was made an OBE by Charles, then-prince of Wales, for her services to the health of the British public in 2009, the company’s 40th anniversary year.

Speaking about her career after she received her royal honour, she said: “In the early days, in the sixties, there was some help around but it was the sort that used humiliation tactics.

“I really felt that we needed to treat overweight people with respect and courtesy and as adults and not as children who needed a slap or something. That was really what inspired me.”

The House of Son Amar theatre said in a statement on Facebook: “Margaret was loved by everyone that was lucky enough to have spent time with her and was the most generous, passionate and hard working person with a wicked sense of humour.

“Her presence will be felt from the centre of our theatre and we dedicate every future performance to continue her legacy.”

What is the Slimming World diet?

The Slimming World diet is run by a Derbyshire-based weight loss company created by Margaret Miles-Bramwell in 1969.

It focuses on a diet of Food Optimising, where members are given a list of Syn Free food, that can be eaten in unlimited amounts.

Syns are short for synergy as the Free Foods, Healthy Extras and Syns all add up to effective weight loss.

The programme encourages dieters to swap high-fat foods for low-fat foods that are naturally filling.

You can get support from fellow slimmers at weekly group meetings and follow an exercise plan to become gradually more active through their Body Magic initiative.

It’s designed to help you lose about 1-2 pounds a week and currently has around 900,000 members attending each week.