Confessional

ONE of my members said our group was like being in therapy, and she was right — it can be very intense. New members are so nervous, you can feel the anxiety coming off them. They think they’re the only fat person in the world.

We have a weekly group discussion. I’m not a trained counsellor, but I’ve had people breaking down, new mothers sobbing, men getting angry because nobody ever taught them how to eat healthily — weight is an incredibly emotional issue, and I try to be compassionate and stay positive.

One middle-aged man put on 2lb, and he snapped: ‘If you weren’t pushing What the slimming group leader thinks about you your stupid, unscientific diet plan, I’d have lost weight.’ He’s not been back.

I love most of my members, but the ones I dread are brides. I ask when the wedding is and they say ‘next month’. They’re expecting to drop 3st and when they don’t, they’re devastated.

People do have delusions — one member went to Walt Disney World in America, and was horrified to find she’d put on a stone. She said: ‘I did eat a lot, but I was walking around loads!’ I had to point out gentle exercise is no good if you’re eating three pizzas a day.

People say self-esteem isn’t just about weight, but in my experience, often it really is.