A woman who weighed more than 17 and a half stone before going on to drop six dress sizes has spoken of how being overweight affected her mental health.

Natalie Dungate has decided to speak out in the run up to Christmas, which is known to be a particularly difficult time for many people – including her.

It was a photo taken of her at Christmas that ultimately prompted Natalie to lose the weight.

She said: “Being overweight not only impacts your physical health but also your mental health.

“Being a size 22 and over 17.5 stone I found day-to-day life a struggle, especially with my daughter and a full time job as a nursery nurse.

“I felt very self-conscious when out in public and although I always put on a brave face I was very depressed and would always turn to food as a comfort, which set the vicious circle of being overweight and depressed.”

Falmouth Packet:

Research shows that one in four people in the UK are affected by mental illness and one in six experience mental health problems each week, with a study from the University of Exeter Medical School showing that people with a higher body mass index were at greater risk of being depressed.

After losing more than seven stone with Slimming World, Natalie has gone on to run her own weight loss groups at All Saints Church in Truro and Threemilestone Community Hall.

“It has given me the confidence to meet new people and completing change my career of 18 years as a nursery nurse to become a Slimming World consultant.

“I feel a lot happier and healthier and I have more energy to be able to exercise,” she said.

“The more people that can find a group and feel they can speak out the better, as far as I’m concerned. It’s okay not to be okay.”

There is more help regarding mental heath, including a quiz for an Every Mind Matters personalised plan, at www.nhs.uk/oneyou.