A man who weighed nearly 36 stone has shed over a fifth of his body weight, driven by the desire to become a father after being told by fertility doctors that losing weight could help him and his partner conceive.
From 36 Stone to Hope
Craig Wright, 33, an admin assistant from Leven in Fife, described his weight as a lifelong 'rollercoaster' before reaching his heaviest in May 2024 at 35 stone 11 pounds (228kg). He said his life felt like 'living in a prison', unable to walk his dog or fit into chairs, and he would even collect prescriptions after dark to avoid judgment.
When his wife Samantha, 30, joined Slimming World in January 2024, Craig followed four months later. His first weigh-in was 'brutal'. He told PA Real Life: 'I stood on the scales and I just looked straight ahead. The consultant wrote down the number and I saw it, and I was taken aback because I knew I was big but I didn't think I was that big. It put the fear of God in me.'
A Vicious Cycle of Eating
Craig said he ate when sad and was sad when he ate, a cycle stemming from school bullying. His father James, a delivery driver, ate takeaways and large portions, leading to three heart attacks before age 53, the last fatal. Craig was 14 at the time. 'My dad was fantastic and I loved him to bits. But the fact that he passed away so early in my life is probably another factor of why I ate like I did,' he said.
Working at McDonald's from age 18 for six years worsened his diet, especially on night shifts with free food and takeaways up to five times a week. At his heaviest, wearing 8XL clothes, he consumed around 7,000 calories daily: four slices of buttered white toast, half a packet of bacon, six eggs, and a full can of beans for breakfast; a Domino's pizza for lunch; and a takeaway Indian or kebab for dinner, plus snacks like chocolate, crisps, and ice cream.
The Turning Point
Craig met Samantha in 2017 via a dating app, and they married in 2021. After two years of trying for a baby without success, they visited a fertility doctor six months ago. 'The doctor mentioned a lot about weight loss and you have to be as fit as possible to have the best chance at having a baby,' Craig said.
Samantha joined Slimming World first and completed a 5K charity walk in May 2024. Inspired, Craig joined days later, shocked to see his weight. He slowly built fitness, starting with short walks and stairs, eventually completing his first 5K walk six months later. 'Now I feel like I can do 5k in my sleep!' he said.
Progress and Hope
Craig has now lost eight stone, dropping from 8XL to 4XL clothing, and weighs 28 stone. His typical day includes a plain bagel with four eggs for breakfast, two dog walks, and an evening strength or boxing class. He said, 'I no longer feel like I'm just in the gutter 24/7... and I'm definitely a lot more positive than before.'
Doctors have told the couple they are 'doing all the right things', and they hope to have a baby soon. Craig emphasized the importance of early action: 'The longer you leave something, the worse it gets. So if you catch something early and you do something about it, you're moving in the right direction.'
