A young mother from Leeds has shed more than six stone after years of failed fad diets and weight loss pills that did not work— and says the benefits went far beyond what the scales showed.
Eleanor Brown, 24, who finally found success with Slimming World, said she not only transformed her body but also saved money and completely turned around her mental health.
Her story reflects new research showing younger adults are achieving life-changing results through weight loss programmes.
She first noticed her weight creep up after having her second baby during lockdown, going from 13st to nearly 17st in what felt like no time at all.
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She first noticed her weight creep up after having her second baby during lockdown
|SLIMMING WORLD
"I was struggling with crippling back pain, and I felt desperate," she explained. "I went to the doctor who prescribed weight loss pills, but they did nothing.
"Diets were even worse – restrictive, miserable, and I'd quit by day two. Something had to change."
Watching her grandma Joan transform through Slimming World gave Eleanor the push she needed. And when she tagged along one evening, expecting a room full of older people, she was amazed to find young parents and people from all walks of life.
"That first week I threw myself into the healthy eating plan, and I lost 8lb," Eleanor says. "It was a life-changing moment for me. For the first time, I realised losing weight was possible!"
Eleanor had been conscious of her weight for as long as she could remember, with insecurities stretching back to childhood ballet classes.
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"I did ballet as a child, and I begged my mum to buy the DVD so I could watch myself," she recalled.
"We rushed home, put it on and when my part came, I asked her to point me out. The moment she did, I burst out crying saying: 'I don't want to be the little fat one.' That insecurity stayed with me for years."
Before losing weight, Eleanor was constantly exhausted and rarely left the house. But having turned a corner, she is embracing a newfound confidence.
Instead of relying on takeaways, Eleanor now makes healthy versions of favourites like chicken Szechuan, pizza and kebabs at home, finding recipe inspiration on TikTok.
New research supports Eleanor's experience, with a study of more than 3,200 Slimming World members aged 18 to 34, showing they lost an average of 12 per cent of their body weight – that's around 2st 1lb – with many losing even more.
The findings come as experts warn that younger adults face the greatest risk of future weight gain.
Global studies predict that one in three children, teenagers and young adults could be living with overweight or obesity by 2050.
The mum-of-three says weight loss has completely turned around her mental health
|SLIMMING WORLD
Eleanor lives with her partner James and their three children – Grace, seven, Evan, four, and Laila, two – and was so inspired by her transformation that she's now become a Slimming World Consultant herself, running her own groups in Leeds.
Reflecting on the transformation, Eleanor's original Consultant, Jane Masefield, noted: "Eleanor has been nothing short of amazing. Watching her grow in confidence and positivity has been such a joy."
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