A man who would binge on ice cream and takeaways was forced to change his lifestyle when doctors warned him he was headed for an early grave. Paul Carpenter, 57, was disgusted with himself when he caught sight of his body in a Selfridges changing room.
At his heaviest of 83kg last summer, he discovered at a routine GP appointment that his dangerous height-to-waist ratio of 62 per cent put him at risk of diabetes, heart disease, or a stroke. And his Cardiovascular Risk Score (QRISK) was more than 20 per cent, meaning he had at least a two in 10 chance of having a stroke or heart attack in the next 10 years.
The shocking statistics led Paul to seek professional help at a gym and embark on a strict exercise and eating regime, where he ended up shredding 20kg and gaining a six-pack. “I felt rubbish all the time, even getting up out of bed was a struggle,” Paul, a construction bidding manager, said.
