A weight off my mind

Obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke – and it’s on the increase in Hull – but one east Hull woman turned the tables by losing ten stone in a year.

You could say Sarah Morfitt is half the woman she used to be.
Just over a year ago the 22-year-old from east Hull weighed 23 stone and three pounds.
But since then she’s lost ten stone - thanks to a routine of regular exercise and a healthier diet.
And Sarah aims to lose more weight – and slim down to about 12 stone which she says would be her ideal size.
“When I was at my heaviest I had no confidence at all and was always nervous and embarrassed about meeting new people because of the way I looked,” she says.
“I would just stay at home, watch television, and eat chips, chocolate and take-away meals. Boredom was the reason for it all and the more bored I became, the more I would eat.”

Help to lose weight

However, Sarah’s life changed when her doctor referred her to the Hull Active Lifestyles Service, which is currently helping around 1,000 people, aged 12 and above, lose weight and increase their physical activity levels each year.
The service introduced her to aqua classes at East Hull Pools and gym sessions at Woodford Leisure Centre. These sessions were led by an exercise referral instructor and are part of The Hull Exercise Referral Scheme.
Sarah was also provided with an active lifestyles advisor who would review her progress and give her encouragement to stick to her healthy eating and physical activity plan.
And the benefits soon started to show.
“I used to get aches in my back, hips and legs because of my weight, but as I slimmed down the pain went away and my energy levels increased.
“The exercise sessions were a lot of fun as I was part of a group of people who had been referred together through the Active Lifestyles Service.
“All it took was a commitment to be more active and to eat healthy and sensible meals. I can recommend the service to anyone. It can be hard work at times but if you keep going the results are really worth it.”
Sarah’s new-found confidence and trim figure have helped her improve her social life, get a job serving customers in - of all places - a local take-away, and go ice skating with friends.
“I’m determined to maintain my lighter weight because life has improved so much.”

Sarah is now living life to the full

Small changes - big difference

Around 69 per cent of men and 56 per cent of women in the city are either overweight or obese, according to figures from the Hull Teaching Primary Care Trust.
This is roughly in line with the national average, but health experts say now is the time to make small lifestyle changes that can bring lasting health benefits.
“Physical activity is important for people of all ages,” says Helen Ingle, a physical activity specialist with the trust.
“It can help maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress and anxiety, reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and make you feel good.”
It only takes 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as a brisk walk or mowing the lawn, each day to sstay healthy.
If you are currently very inactive, why not start by doing a bit more exercise than you do already and build it up from there.
You could also buy yourself a pedometer (a small gadget that clips on to your belt) to count how many steps you do in a day. The healthy target is 10,000 steps a day.

Taste the difference Top tips to healthier eating

Eat a range of foods to make sure you are getting a balanced diet. Base your meals on starchy foods such as potatoes, bread, cereals, rice and pasta. Try eating wholegrain varieties such as wholemeal bread or brown rice and pasta as these contain more fibre and can fill you up. Eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day. Don’t skip breakfast – research shows that people who eat a healthy breakfast such as a high fibre cereal, fruit juice and toast are less likely to eat high fat or sugary snacks before lunch. Aim to eat more fish including a portion of oily fish each week such as mackerel, sardines, salmon, pilchards, herring and fresh tuna. Try swapping foods high in saturated fat such as butter and lard for unsaturated fats such as vegetable oil e.g. sunflower or olive oil. Watch how much sugar you eat as it is high in calories and low in nutrients, and particularly look out for added sugars in foods. Try to eat less salt – aim for no more that 6g a day for adults. Drink plenty of water - aim for 6 – 8 glasses per day.

Working in partnership
Hull Primary Care Trust tel. (01482) 344700