Popular weight loss and diet program quietly exits Australia – leaving fans in a panic: ‘Disappointing’

Aussie followers of The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan were shocked today to learn that the weight loss business had suddenly shut down its local operation.

An ‘update’ notice posted on the company’s Australian website informed ‘dieters across the country’ that ‘after many years’ of operation, Australian distribution company Slimmerlife ‘will no longer be distributing The 1:1 Diet products into Australia’.

‘We know this may come as disappointing news if you were hoping to start (or continue) your weight-loss journey with us,’ the update read.

The team confirmed that while the weight loss operation was winding up in Australia, some of the local ‘consultants are still carrying plenty of stock and are ready to support you, just as they always have’.

The notice concluded with the profile details of six consultants, based in NSW, VIC, WA, and SA, alongside a message encouraging people on the plan to reach out to them for support and products to continue their weight loss journey.

‘They’re passionate, knowledgeable, and ready to walk alongside you with one-to-one support every step of the way,’ the update read.

At the time of publication, The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan’s UK website and business appeared to still be operational, as were several overseas distribution websites, including in New Zealand.

FEMAIL spoke to one disappointed Aussie dieter who had only recently started the program and had already experienced incredible weight loss results. 

‘When I saw the message on the website, I rushed to panic order meal replacements,’ the anonymous client said.

‘I’ve been doing the plan since the start of February 2025 and am down 16kg. The thought of losing that progress so suddenly was deflating after two months of hard work.’

The unexpected shut-down left the Aussie worried how they might fare without the support, structure and products that the program provides. 

‘The diet is all about consistency, that is how I have approached it at least, and losing that makes me nervous I might revert to my previous bad habits – particularly when I haven’t been doing it for that long,’ they said.

‘I have secured one of the remaining consultants but will be trying to stock up as much as possible while they figure out next steps.’

The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan, was previously known as The Cambridge Diet.

The diet was initially developed by Dr Alan Howard at Cambridge University in 1970 before being introduced as a weight loss commercial product in the US and UK in the mid 1980s. 

The name of the plan was changed in more recent years to highlight its point of difference to other weight loss programs, namely that the service offered one-to-one support and personalised plans from its consultants.

The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan is essentially a very low-calorie diet designed for rapid and drastic weight loss. It requires participants to primarily consume low-calorie meal replacement foods, including shakes, soups, porridges and snack bars, before gradually re-introducing healthy meals based around vegetables and protein.

Similar to other ketogenic diets, the proven science behind the diet involves consuming a low-calorie diet and meal replacement products to induce a metabolic state known as ketosis.

In that state of ketosis, the body is forced to burn stored fat for energy, resulting in rapid weight reduction.

This particular program offers personalised support from a consultant, who provides customers with an individualised meal plan and supplies them with their meal replacement food products.

Some of the nutritionally balanced calorie-controlled meal replacement foods on offer in the program include porridge, spag bol and Thai noodles, in addition to shakes, smoothies and snack bites.

News of the weight loss business’ Australian closure comes after iconic weight loss company Jenny Craig shut its doors in 2023.

In June 2023, the business entered voluntary administration in Australia and New Zealand and was also closed in the US and Canada earlier that same year.

Jenny Craig, which was founded in 1983, was famed around the world for its personalised weight loss centres and ready-made meal plans which promised to help clients shed weight.

But, after four decades in business, the brand found itself struggling to compete with growing competition from other fashionable diets as well as weight loss drugs like Ozempic.

Visiting the Jenny Craig website takes users to an information site about the Juniper program.