I’m proof that you CAN beat obesity
i AGrEE that when it comes to the obesity epidemic, we should take individual responsibility rather than blaming everyone else (letters). i used to be obese — borderline diabetic with severe foot and knee pain. i was miserable, fat, unhappy with how i looked and couldn’t join in anything mobile with friends and family. One April, i had my annual health check with my doctor, which flagged up all my problems — and finally had that Eureka moment when i realised i was eating myself into an early grave. i asked the doctor if i could try to deal with my problems myself. She agreed and said i should return in December, when she would do the tests again. i joined Slimming World and lost over four stone. i am no longer borderline diabetic, my blood pressure is down, my cholesterol is down, my knee and foot pain is considerably reduced and at last i FEEl HUMAn! i don’t deny it has been hard — i constantly have to think about what i’m eating and always need to make the correct food choices. i have to make an effort to walk and exercise. My reward is to finally enjoy my life. i see obese people on their mobility scooters in the supermarket with trolleyloads of unsuitable food and i want to tell them they are killing themselves. it has been suggested that cheap processed food is a contributory factor but, sorry, fruit and veg is cheaper. it’s a fag having to cook from scratch but it becomes fun eventually. A sedentary lifestyle is nothing to do with reduced numbers of playing fields — walking is free. Sitting eating all day in front of daytime TV is the problem. Although i agree increased stress can be a factor, there is a great deal of stress involved in knowing you look and feel gross and that it’s all your own fault. if we make obesity an illness, we will only encourage those unwilling or unable to make the effort to change their lifestyles in order to regain a life and they will continue to believe it’s something or someone else’s fault that they are gross. Online fashion stores have a lot to answer for as well. i have noticed in recent months that grossly obese models are regularly included in the catalogues, making the obese believe it is natural to look as they do. These overweight girls are probably reasonably healthy while they are young but will, in later life, succumb to the inevitable health issues all fat people suffer from, putting even more strain on the nHS. none of it is easy. But it’s up to the individual. i’m sure my letter will prompt the minuscule proportion of people who are really overweight due to an illness to be up in arms at my comments. But until we start telling the truth, this problem will escalate.
Jean Marcroft, wirral.