A Scottish woman who transformed her life by losing an incredible 18 stone without resorting to weight loss drugs or surgery has been crowned Slimming World's Woman of the Year for 2025.
Claire Kane, a 40-year-old from Airdrie, Scotland, weighed 29 stone 5lb at her heaviest, a condition that severely impacted her health and fertility options. Her dream of starting a family seemed increasingly distant.
The Turning Point: A Dream of Motherhood
Married to her husband Aaron since 2009, Claire described a life where her weight was a constant burden. 'I was happy, but I kept gaining weight,' she recalled. Her daily routine involved sitting in front of the television, consuming family-sized chocolate bars, crisps, biscuits, and frozen foods.
At nearly 30 stone, she struggled to walk 200 metres without becoming breathless. For seven years, she battled infertility caused by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis. This diagnosis prompted her to join Slimming World with a clear goal: to lose enough weight to qualify for IVF treatment.
In a remarkable turn of events, after just nine months in the programme and having lost eight stone, Claire discovered she had fallen pregnant naturally. 'I couldn't believe it. Aaron and I had waited years for this moment - we were overjoyed,' she revealed.
Overcoming Setbacks on the Path to Health
Her journey faced a significant setback following the death of her father from cancer. Overwhelmed by grief while caring for her newborn daughter, Olivia, Claire reverted to her old eating habits and regained some of the weight.
Life became even more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic after the birth of her second daughter, Sophie, in 2020. 'With a toddler, a baby and Aaron working as a key worker, life felt overwhelming,' said Claire, who works in banking. 'I turned to convenience foods, and the weight piled on. I was terrified I was killing myself.'
She felt unable to play with her children at the park and realised she wasn't the mother she wanted to be for them. This powerful realisation drove her to return to Slimming World in August 2022, determined to get healthy for her family.
A New Life and a Prestigious Award
Describing the weekly sessions as a 'game-changer', Claire committed fully to the plan. In less than three years, she achieved her target weight of 10 stone, shedding a total of 18 stone.
Her diet underwent a complete transformation. Where she once started the day with sugary cereal and ended it with frozen nuggets and chips, she now prioritises a healthy, balanced diet. She enjoys meals packed with fruit, yoghurt, and protein, and has reduced her chocolate intake to just one small bar a day.
Claire has also embraced physical activity, slowly building up her fitness to the point where she now uses gym equipment at home during her lunch breaks and has completed 10k runs for Race for Life.
The support from her Slimming World group was crucial. 'The plan and the conversations we had helped me to understand my habits around food,' she explained. 'I learned how to incorporate all my favourites in a healthy, sustainable way.'
Now, she lives the life she once only dreamed of. A recent family trip to Disney World saw her walking 20,000 steps daily and enjoying every ride without anxiety. Her proudest achievement, however, remains her two children. 'At my biggest, I almost lost hope of having a family. Now, I'm giving them a healthy, happy future and I'll be here to enjoy it.'
On winning her award, Claire said: 'If you'd told me at almost 30 stone that I'd be here, I'd never have believed you. If you're sitting there thinking it's too late or too hard, please know it isn't. I've been at rock bottom, and now I'm standing here as Woman of the Year. If I can do it, so can you.'
