Health and Family: Men with the best of reasons to lose weight

On average, British men are now a stone heavier than they were 15 years ago. The British Heart Foundation says this represents a ticking time bomb for male health and men of all ages need to change their damaging diets and couch potato lifestyles. HILARIE STELFOX talked to two Huddersfield men who have done just that

WHAT a difference the past 10 months have made to Andrew Margrave.

In March last year the 28-year-old from Cowlersley weighed nearly 18 stones. He was out of work, severely depressed, suffering from asthma attacks and feared that his marriage couldn’t survive.

But then the news that his wife, Sheryl, was pregnant and he was to become a father for the first time forced him to take stock of his life.

“When I found out, I knew I had to do something,’’ he said. “I wanted to be healthy for my son. I wanted to be able to play with him and be a proper dad.” Andrew was also conscious of the fact that his father had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and didn’t want to follow in his footsteps.

And so, encouraged by Sheryl and his mum, Ann Williams, he joined a Weight Watchers class at St Patrick’s Centre in Huddersfield run by Katie van Diepen.

“I was quite anxious about it,” said Andrew. “But my mum said she’d go along with me because she wanted to lose weight as well. When I first walked into the class I felt very intimidated but as soon as I met the leader, Katie, she put me at ease.”