Controversial mum: “I put my 12-year-old on a 500 calorie-a-day diet”

Mum Donna Galt took extreme action to help her overweight daughter Danielle lose 2st

When Donna W Galt’s daughter Danielle started worrying about her weight gain, Donna vowed to help her slim down fast.

But, shockingly, rather than seeking a doctor’s advice, she cut her daughter’s daily calorie intake to 500-800 (the recommended daily amount for a 12-year-old is 1,600-2,200 calories).

And Donna also ignored her husband’s fears that Danielle, now 13, may develop anorexia.

MUCH HAPPIER

Aspiring model Donna, 34, from Brighton, says: “I’m a size 6 and restrict myself to 800 calories a day, so I knew it’d work for Danielle.”

And Donna – who is married to Patrick, 35, and has five other children aged three to 15, who are all healthy weights – adds: “Danielle was miserable, I wanted to help. My husband was worried she might develop anorexia but I knew she wouldn’t and thought it was worth the risk.

“People might criticise my method but there’s a huge child obesity problem in the UK and Danielle’s proof that if you cut calories you get results.

“When her weight plateaued, some days she’d have just 500 calories and eat soup, crackers, jelly and fruit. She’d sometimes have a family-sized chocolate bar and be full on that.”

Danielle, who weighed 9st aged 12 – 2st above average for her age – lost 2st in just six months. She now weighs 7st 6lbs and is 5ft. She says: “I’m glad Mum put me on a diet – I’m much happier now. I used to get upset about my size. I wanted to be like other kids.”

Donna reveals Danielle had always had a big appetite and her weight began to creep up as she approached puberty.

She says: “I’d let Danielle have seconds of chicken and chips at dinner and she’d buy chocolate with her pocket money. I feel guilty I didn’t do something sooner.”

LOSING WEIGHT

In June 2015, Donna put Danielle on a diet and encouraged her to ride her bike and play Wii Fit for at least four hours a week.

She explains: “She was allowed low-sugar cereal with skimmed milk for breakfast, a ham wrap with no butter for lunch, and chicken and rice for dinner. I also gave her fruit and replaced her sugary drinks with water. Danielle was happy and promised not to cheat.”

Within two weeks, she lost 10lbs, even though doctors advise losing just 2lbs a week to avoid health complications.

Donna says: “She found it tough at first and said she was hungry, but she was chuffed with the weight she’d lost.”

SERIOUS RISK

Unsurprisingly, Donna’s family criticised her decision to put Danielle on such a restrictive diet. She explains: “They said it was dangerous but I know what’s right for my child, and I kept a close eye on her to make sure she didn’t get ill.

“I researched online how to reduce calories. Danielle’s now having around 1,500 calories a day. I don’t think she’ll gain a large amount of weight again because she knows how to control her diet. I’m so proud.”

Dr Sarah Jarvis says: “Living off 500 calories a day is dangerous for children as it puts them at serious risk of vitamin deficiency. If your child is overweight, ask your GP for help.”