A former bank manager who only joined a weight loss group to support his wife has been named one of the UK's top five slimmers.
Tony Orrell, of Brentford, has shed more than 16 stone since joining Slimming World in 2012, going from 33st 7lbs to 17st 3lbs.
The 56-year-old, who now runs his own groups in Isleworth, came fifth in Slimming World's Greatest Loser 2015 finals, held at Kensington Roof Gardens on May 12.
He says he only started attending the Sunbury Slimming World group because his wife Debbie - who has lost an impressive six stone since joining - did not want to go alone.
Mr Orrell, whose waist has shrunk by an incredible 26ins, said: "I knew I was big and my self-esteem was at rock bottom. To be honest, most of the time I felt like a freak. I suppose I was in denial though; I didn't want to admit to myself that I was on the road to self-destruction.
"So when Debbie suggested joining Slimming World, I was beyond caring about my weight and my health, but I agreed to go along for her.
"I've not only lost half my body weight, I've also gained a new job that I love – the satisfaction I get from helping other people to change their lives for the better is incredible.
"I used to be ashamed of myself, but now I can hold my head up high and be proud of who I am."
Mr Orrell had been overweight since his school days and weighed 38-and-a-half stone at his heaviest. He could barely walk and struggled to stand up for his weigh-ins when he first joined Slimming World.
His bulk also contributed to a string of medical complaints, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnoea, which meant he had to be hooked up to a machine to help him breathe at night.
Three years later, he takes Zumba dance-exercise classes and often runs the four miles from his home to his Slimming World group.
Mr Orrell runs a morning and evening Slimming World group at St John's Road, Isleworth, every Wednesday.
In February this year he earned a bronze award from the weight loss organisation for helping members in the two groups shed a total of 146 stone.
For more information about Mr Orrell's Slimming World groups in Isleworth, call him on 0746 8416 251.
