How a dietitian's faith-based weight loss program became a controversial religious empire
In short: In 1986, Gwen Shamblin Lara launched a weight-loss program that rejected traditional calorie counting and exercise. What began as a Memphis mall seminar grew into a global ministry, eventually sparking intense debates over religious doctrine, personal wealth, and the thin line between spiritual guidance and cult-like control.
Gwen Shamblin Lara, a registered dietitian with a master's degree in food and nutrition from the University of Tennessee, founded the Weigh Down Workshop in 1986. Her approach was unconventional: she advised followers to cut food portions in half and eat only when hungry, suggesting they transfer their desire for food into a love for God. This method, detailed in her 1997 book 'The Weigh Down Diet', became a massive success, selling over 1.2 million copies.
The ministry's reach was vast. By 1995, the program was in more than 1,000 churches across 49 states, Canada, and the UK. By 1998, it had over 250,000 participants in more than 21,000 classes worldwide. However, this rapid growth brought scrutiny. Experts raised concerns regarding the program's deviations from American Dietetic Association guidance, and Shamblin faced criticism for her lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of a $2.3 million mansion and multiple luxury vehicles.
The spiritual influence of Shamblin extended into the Remnant Fellowship Church, which she founded in 1999. The group sparked major debate, facing claims of cult-like behaviour and condemnation from various Christian sects for rejecting Trinitarianism. The church was also embroiled in a legal investigation following the death of an eight-year-old child, Josef Smith, whose parents were convicted of abuse and murder in 2007. While Shamblin and her members publicly supported the Smiths' legal defense, the incident led to authorities raiding the church to investigate its teachings on child discipline.
On May 29, 2021, Shamblin's sudden death occurred after her private jet plunged into Percy Priest Lake. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the crash was caused by pilot Joe Lara's loss of control due to spatial disorientation.
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