Plea to tackle obesity

It was a "funny turn" but when the doctors started asking James Turner about sensation on his right and left sides he knew it was something far more serious."He was looking for the signs of a mini-stroke," said James, who at 30 years old knows he is living with a ticking timebomb.

Specialists have told James, a diabetic who weighs 30st 5lb, that unless his obesity is tackled soon he will not survive past his 35th birthday.

For James it is a prognosis that is both terrifying and frustrating.

He believes laparoscopic surgery could be the answer to his prayers, but the NHS won't approve funding and he cannot afford to pay for it privately.

He has tried to lose weight in so many ways without success and he believes that the surgery is now a life-saving necessity, not a lifestyle choice.

"I need this surgery because I am running out of time," said James, who is one of six Shropshire people appearing on ITV's Tonight show this evening to plead their case for more funding.

"I just get so frustrated when I hear of cosmetic surgeries that are carried out within the NHS and they will not agree to funding for this surgery."

Obesity has been described as a major threat to the nation's health, with government ministers claiming they are determined to tackle it.

But it seems the problem may be only getting worse. New figures out yesterday revealed the number of obesity treatments on prescription has passed one million for the first time - eight times the number dispensed in 1999.

And James maintains they are not going far enough to help bring those figures down.

"I am now on eight different tablets a day," he explained. "The operation could cost between £8,000 and £11,000, but they would recoup that money in a matter of years because I wouldn't need to be on all this medication.

"I have had blackouts which have cost me my driving licence, and my health is seriously suffering."

For James the finances of agreeing the surgery make perfect sense, but for him the reasons it should go ahead are far more personal.

He dreams of living a healthy life in which he enjoys time with his family and being able to do things with his children.

It is why he is an ardent supporter of a new campaign by the Shropshire group of BOSPA - The British Obesity Surgery Patient Association.

They are pushing for more funding to be agreed for such operations and hope to raise the profile of the plight facing thousands across Britain, including many people in Shropshire.

They include Martin Adams from Brookside who has also been interviewed by the Tonight programme after he was first referred for surgery in 2003.

The health authority has yet to grant funding which Martin, 42, believes has had a detrimental impact on his health.

At 22 stone his body mass index of 44 (a normal BMI is 18-25) is considered morbidly obese.

He has sleep apnoea and has also recently been diagnosed with diabetes and an under-active thyroid.

He says that if surgery had first been carried out in 2003 he would not now have those two conditions.

"This is a quality-of-life issue," said Martin.

"I have to sleep with a machine every night in case I stop breathing and die. I have done everything possible to keep active and keep my weight down and now need this help."

Mother of two Debbie Wellings, from Bayston Hill in Shrewsbury, is practically confined to a wheelchair outside of her home.

She was born with a fault in her spine which has worsened in recent years, adding to her weight gain.

She is not sure exactly how much she weighs - but her BMI is 61. Her GP has recommended that she has a gastric bypass which will make her stomach smaller.

"Other people aspire to be a size 10. I just want to be able to use a normal-width wheelchair," she said.

Debbie said her weight is impacting not only on her physical health but also on her mental well-being.

She said people view her differently and she has become very depressed about it, and is receiving counselling.

Rachel Ball, who was instrumental in setting up the Shropshire support group, has lost 11 stone since having surgery almost two years ago.

She had reached 20 stone when she felt at her most depressed.

Rachel also could not win NHS funding but when she hit rock-bottom her daughter took out a loan to pay for the surgery privately.

"It really did give me a new lease of life," said Rachel.

"I had tried every diet imaginable and was losing hope. I was so relieved that something constructive was finally being done.

"But I was warned that it was only a tool and that I would also have to maintain a certain lifestyle to help it work. But it does work and it does save lives.

"People are made to feel so ashamed when they are overweight and that can only compound the problem. What they need is support and help and that means the government needs to put its hand in its pocket and allocate more funding in this area.

"I just want to convince the health authorities of the cost benefits for these patients. After all, I alone must be saving them a small fortune. Unfortunately for many people paying privately is simply not an option."

By Tracey O'Sullivan