Clare Dowell, 43, from Newcastle, has undergone a remarkable transformation, losing 17 stone after NHS gastric bypass surgery. At her heaviest, she weighed 30 stone and wore a size 32, but now she weighs 13st 2lbs and fits into a size 14.
A lifelong struggle with weight
Clare's weight issues began in childhood after the death of her father when she was four. She turned to comfort eating, consuming up to 10 packets of crisps a day. "I loved to run around and play football but I was always the biggest kid," she said. "My dad died when I was four, my grandparents had dementia and my mum had cancer – so there was a lot of trauma and I'd comfort eat."
By adulthood, everyday tasks became harder. In 2010, she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, eczema, and psoriasis. Her weight continued to spiral, affecting her mobility and confidence. "I struggled getting on rides at theme parks. It felt like Donkey Kong trying to sit in a Mario Kart chair," she recalled.
The turning point
In 2016, Clare was offered an NHS gastric bypass and spent three years on the waiting list, during which she followed a dietitian's eating plan and did CrossFit, losing two stone before her surgery in 2019. Since then, she has lost a total of 17 stone.
Her diet has completely changed. She now eats a slice of toast and coffee for breakfast, fruit and cocktail sausages for lunch, and grilled chicken, salmon, or eggs with a spoonful of mashed potato for dinner. She no longer snacks between meals, only enjoying crisps once a week.
Life after weight loss
Clare says life is "amazing" now. She can run for the bus, fit comfortably on theme park rides, and enjoys clothes shopping. The transformation is so striking that friends and relatives often don't recognise her in the street. "A few times, people haven't recognised me and said they aren't sure I am who they think I am. I've literally dropped a person," she said.
Clare hopes her story will encourage people not to judge those struggling with their weight. "People say just exercise more and eat less but they don't know if it's a psychological thing. You shouldn't judge. If someone was on drugs, an alcoholic or anorexic, you'd get them help but if someone is overeating they just say 'don't eat and exercise more'," she added.
