Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.
Alan Y suffered a heart attack at the age of 46. Since then, Alan has become more aware of the nutritional value of foods, and has made small changes to his diet, swapping unhealthy options for healthy alternatives. Alan has always been quite active but has increased his exercise since his heart attack. Alan is proud of what he has been through.
Alan Y is 48 and works as a fitter in a hire shop. He is married and is white British.
Tommy has always been large, but gained weight due to a culture of drinking after work and eating unhealthy foods. Tommy was advised to lose weight by his GP for health reasons. He tried different strategies to do this, but found the support of an NHS program and a local organisation particularly helpful. Tommy exercises regularly and has changed his diet in recent years, losing some weight. Tommy emphasises the importance of exercise for weight loss.
Tommy is 85 and is white British.
Janet started to struggle with her weight after having children and being diagnosed with diabetes. Janet found she could not lose weight through dieting, so travelled abroad to have a gastric band fitted. Although Janet found the operation difficult, she is pleased with the decision she made, as she has since lost around 10 stone and found her health has improved.
Janet is 62 and is a retired local government officer. She is married with 2 adult children, and is white British.
Paul X gained weight after his health deteriorated, though he is not sure what has caused this. Although Paul knows how to lose weight, this is not easy for him, as he does not eat regularly and finds exercise painful. Paul feels that strains on the NHS have affected his care. He would like healthcare professionals to offer more personalised support, and help him manage his weight in the context of his wider health conditions.
Paul X is 57 and is married with 3 children. Due to health problems, he is not currently in employment, but previously worked as a care worker. Paul is white...
Stuart started to gain weight in middle age. Although he lost weight for a heart bypass operation, he has since gained some again. As Stuart suffers from type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and back problems, he would like to lose weight for health reasons. Although in the past Stuart used a starvation diet to lose weight, he is now making changes to his diet, as well as taking advice from healthcare professionals on managing his weight in the context of his wider health conditions.
Stuart is 70 and is a retired electrical engineer. He is married with 2 adult children and is white British.
Tref has lost and gained weight over the years, but has found it hard to maintain a diet over time. Tref started taking his weight loss more seriously since being diagnosed with bowel cancer. He is finding making changes to his diet easier now he has a motivation for dieting and something to aim for.
Tref is 77, and is married with 2 adult children. He is retired, but previously worked as an electrical/ signaling engineer. He is white British.
David gained weight in middle age due to work commitments and a sociable lifestyle, where he was exercising less and eating more. David was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure around 15 years ago, but started taking his weight loss more seriously after being warned by his diabetic nurse that his health was in danger. David lost some weight by following an NHS program, changing his diet and exercising regularly. David would like to lose more weight but has found this difficult.
David is 71 and works as an engineer. He is married with adult children, and is white British.
Ria was a healthy weight until her 40s. She gained weight drastically after the death of her son, where she began binge-eating as a source of comfort. Ria has several health conditions, which have been related to or affected by her weight, including type 2 diabetes, blood pressure problems, and depression. Ria feels that dealing with obesity requires health professionals to consider new approaches, and emphasizes the importance of education.
Ria is 73 and has 2 adult children. She is a retired probation officer and is white British.
Alan X says that for the last 20 years, he has been overweight with a weight of about 14.5 stone. On average he tries to diet once a year, usually after Christmas. Over the years there have been periods of weight loss and periods of weight gain. In 2006, he had a heart attack and later underwent CABG (coronary artery bypass graft). He has also been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure and had 2 episodes of atrial fibrillation. Alan plans to join a weight management program in the future.
Alan X is a retired university lecturer. He is married with 2 grown up daughters.
John Y describes himself as overweight but not obese;. After the age of fifty, he has had three heart attacks that required heart surgery each time. Later, he was also diagnosed with kidney disease and had a renal artery bypass graft done. Following his liver surgery - and due to a lack of stomach muscle function – his back has greatly deteriorated. At present, his physical activity level is limited and he feels it affects his ability to lose weight. He eats healthily and is applying several rules including, small portion sizes, no snacking, no alcohol or sugary drinks and drinks plenty of water.
Married, one daughter; retired company director. Ethnic background: white English, one adult daughter.
