49 year old lorry driver Jason Anderson from Bedworth in Warwickshire has lost over 14st after being referred to Slimming World by his doctor. Jason says" I’d been overweight for pretty much all of my adult life and it was starting to have a huge impact on my health. In 2010 I started taking medication for high blood pressure and in 2015 I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I’m a HGV driver and at my biggest I struggled to connect my trailer and even wear my seat belt.
By August 2016 I was told I also had sleep apnoea and that I wouldn’t live to see Christmas unless I made a change. I was even offered a gastric band but I turned it down as I still wanted to enjoy real food. Thankfully my GP offered me 12-weeks of Slimming World group membership through the Slimming World on Referral programme. I decided I had nothing to lose and I haven’t looked back since.
I joined my local group in Bedworth weighing 26st 6.5lbs. I was really nervous before walking through the doors of the group for the first time but soon realised I had nothing to worry about - I loved it so much I continued to self-fund after my 12-week membership was up and now I’ve made real friends for life. I wouldn’t miss going to my Slimming World group for anything.
I couldn’t believe how much amazing food I could eat and still lose weight. I switched my diet of fry-ups, takeaways and pastries for homemade healthy meals like spicy chicken, sweet potato wedges and vegetables. The new way of eating enabled me to control my diabetes without worry.
I’ve now lost 14st 1lbs and I feel like a new person.
Since losing the weight my health has improved drastically. I no longer need to take medication for diabetes or high blood pressure. It’s the small things that have really made a difference too. I can run around after my grandchildren, I can put my socks on without sitting down, and I can fit the seat belt of my truck around me without worry.
I’ve also taken up running and by building up my distances gradually I’ve really started to enjoy it. I even finished my first half marathon in September - something I’d never have dreamed of doing before losing weight. Thanks to Slimming World I have the life I always wanted and a real future."
Slimming World on Referral allows health professionals looking for weight-management services to refer patients whose weight is affecting their health to Slimming World groups, offering them free membership, in blocks of 12 weeks. Many of these patients then go on to self-fund after their 12-week membership period is up. Slimming World’s research shows that referral members who attend at least 10 out of 12 sessions lose on average over 5% of their starting weight - a clinically significant amount - at about half the cost of obesity drugs.
For more information about Slimming World on referral contact your local GP or health centre.