AFTER SHEDDING eight stone, a woman from Pewsey has been awarded the Greatest Loser award from her Slimming World group.

Angela Forsyth, 54, of Stratton Road, Pewsey, won the title after losing the most weight in her group, slimming down from 19 stone when she joined in February last year to 10 stone 8.5 lbs.

Mrs Forsyth, a grandmother of two, said: “I feel like a new woman since losing weight- in fact, I look so different that people who I haven’t seen for a while often can’t believe I’m the same person. For me though it’s the change on the inside that’s been the biggest- I’m happier, healthier and much more confident now.

“Before I lost weight I cried on the scales at home when I realised how much weight had crept on. I spoke to my doctor who gave me a referral to Slimming World.”

Mrs Forsyth’s weight was also putting a huge strain on her health and although wanting to be active she found it difficult. After she received her referral paperwork she decided to join the Marlborough Slimming World group at The Conservative Club in High Street.

Mrs Forsyth said: “Walking through those doors was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, I was embarrassed about my size and scared that I might be the biggest person there. I needn’t have worried though, everyone there was so friendly especially my consultant Julie and I was so relieved when I found out that my weight was confidential between me and her- I’d had visions of having to tell everyone how much I weighed.”

People who are severely overweight, with a BMI above 30, are more likely to suffer from health problems like coronary heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and cancer, and obesity is liked to a reduction in life expectancy of between seven and nine years. In Marlborough 22.3 per cent of people are so severely overweight that their health is already at risk.

The Marlborough group meets every Wednesday at 4.30pm and 6.30pm at The Conservative Club, High Street, Marlborough. To join call or text Julie Muirhead on 07758 955897 or just show up.