A GLASGOW woman who says being overweight left her “too embarrassed to leave the house” has hailed an NHS funded scheme that helped her drop six dress sizes.

Just over a year ago Catherine Owners tipped the scales at 15stone 7lbs, got out of breath walking and was reliant on pills for chronic back pain and arthritis.

Unable to even do “basic tasks” because of her weight and battling depression the 62-year-old great grandmother made an appointment with her GP, who persuaded her to make a life-changing decision.

Catherine, who lives in the Provanmill area of the city, left the surgery with a 12-week membership for WW (the new Weight Watchers) instead of a prescription, which includes coaching and workshops, face-to-face meetings as well as recipe ideas and activity advice.

The scheme was launched as a pilot in Glasgow in 2017 and was rolled out after 62% of the 870 participants lost 5% of their body weight.

The service has now been expanded to allow all GPs and hospitals to refer patients.

Read more: Glasgow grandpa sheds eights stone and has three tips for success

After just over a year, Catherine, who has 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, now weights 10st 3lbs, swims five times a week and is no longer reliant on drugs to ease her back pain, while her arthritis has also improved.

Glasgow Times:

She said: “I made an appointment with my doctor because I was suffering from depression. I was too embarrassed to leave the house, I was suffering back pain and even basic walking would leave me out of breath.

“We both decided it couldn’t continue. The hardest part was making that decision.

“Like most people I was nervous and didn’t think (WW) would help, but I have to say walking through the doors to that Provanmill workshop, the wellness coach Allison Doig made me feel so welcome, and I have never looked back.

“Once I lost the first stone, I started to feel a lot better.

“What I love about the WW freestyle plan, is that there is no food off the menu, and it has helped me to make healthier choices.

“I used to eat a lot of takeaways, eat the wrong foods, and my portions were always too big, but I now have a new love of fresh fruit and vegetables, and I love my zero-point foods, like chicken, fish and eggs.

“These always keep me full, and I’m never hungry.”

Read more: Glasgow City Centre clinic rapped for prescribing 'unsafe' weight-loss drugs

Patients who successfully attend and lose 5% of their body weight will then be considered for a further twelve week block.

After losing a bit of weight, Catherine joined the Glasgow Club and now swims five times a week and does aqua aerobics.

She said: “I can’t believe I’m not only able to participate, but actually really enjoy it.”

She says the support of her wellness coach Allison made the weight-lost journey easier and her experience inspired her daughter Michelle to join WW.

While, like most people, she gained a few pounds over Christmas, she says she’s not concerned and will get ‘back on track’ in the New Year.

Glasgow Times:

She said: “My advice to anyone losing weight is to just remember why you are there and focus on your goals.

“I also have to say a massive thank you to my GP for referring me.

“I have less doctor visits, and have stopped medication and I’m happy that my weight loss success, has also been a success for the NHS.”

A spokeswoman for NHSGGC said: “We are pleased with the excellent weight loss results for those patients referred to WW and Catherine should be congratulated for achieving her target.

“By expanding this service to allow GPs and hospital referrals we have been able offer an increased number of patients weight management support.”