The mum-of-three was even forced to stop working at a care home when she developed back problems caused by her size. She says she’s been too fat to work for five years – and has claimed around £30,000 in sickness benefits.
'The NHS shut the door in my face. If they don’t help me, I’ll die. Taxpayers see fat people as a burden'
Incredibly, her husband Sean is a qualified fitness instructor who goes to the gym three times a week and ran a marathon last year. Yet she says she can’t exercise or diet despite his expertise – and says the only way she’ll slim is if the NHS pays for a gastric bypass, which can cost up to £15,000.
Understandably, the NHS has refused funding on the grounds she hasn’t proved she’s willing to change her lifestyle, but 5ft 2 Wendy – who has a dangerously high BMI of 76.8 (18-25 is healthy) moans this is “unfair.”
Speaking as figures reveal more than 7,000 adults in Britain are claiming benefits because they say their excessive weight prevents them from earning a living – costing taxpayers £28m a year – Wendy says: “I know I’ve been stupid – now I’m too fat to work. I was greedy and ate too many sausage rolls. But it’s too late for me to help myself now. I try to diet, but exercise is painful.
“I worked and paid my taxes for 20 years, so I didn’t expect the NHS to shut the door in my face. If they don’t help me, I’ll die. Taxpayers see fat people as a burden, but alcoholics get help. I’m being treated unfairly.”
Wendy – who practised ballet as a child – adds: “Sean’s advised me about nutrition and exercise, but I don’t have as much willpower as him. I’m sensitive about my weight so he doesn’t push me.”
Wendy, 46, from Barnstaple, Devon, was a size 16 before she fell pregnant with her first son at 21, with a previous partner.
During the pregnancy she gained 6st, taking her to 19st and a size 24 – and she struggled to lose it. She says: “I’d eat a cheese sandwich for brunch with a packet of crisps, and have a steak and kidney pie with mash for dinner. I’d snack on a large wedge of cheese. I thought it was OK because I was eating for two.”
'My husband Sean’s advised me about nutrition and exercise, but I don’t have as much willpower'
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When Wendy met Sean, 41, online in 2003, she still weighed 19st, despite having tried Weight Watchers and even though doctors had warned her about her size.
Ironically, Sean worked as a fitness instructor. She says: “He was so fit – 6ft 4 and 16st – and worked out every day, but he told me he’d weighed 25st before losing 9st. He didn’t judge me – he just liked me for me.”
Incredibly, despite Sean’s knowledge about diet and exercise, Wendy didn’t change. She says: “I carried on eating what I always had because I was happy and healthy, whereas he’d eat smaller portions and have chicken or salmon with rice. Sean didn’t criticise me, but he encouraged me to go for walks.”
In 2006, while at work, Wendy sustained a back injury lifting a patient. A physiotherapist confirmed her weight had caused wear and tear on her spine, leading to the injury. She says: “It was agony. I was basically bed-ridden, so I couldn’t go to work.”
Yet she still refused to diet – and ballooned to 25st within 18 months. She says: “I comfort ate. I’d snack on packets of crisps and chocolate. Four times a week, I’d have a takeaway. I was secretly eating 4,000 calories a day.”
Wendy began claiming a £100 weekly disability living allowance 28 weeks after sustaining her injury – which rose to £130 after three years. Over the past six years, she’s claimed around £30k.
Since then, Wendy has only attempted to diet once – so she could fit into her wedding dress.
“I lost 3st by cutting down on carbs and going for walks,” she says. “But despite dropping to 22st and my back pain improving, I was 28st within a year. Sean was disappointed, but accepted I didn’t have the willpower.
“People would look at me disapprovingly in the street, but Sean told me to ignore them.”
She adds: “I’m ashamed I haven’t been able to work and I’ve claimed so much in benefits. I wish I could stick to diets, but some people just don’t have self- control – it’s not our fault.”
In 2009, at 30st and a size 36, Wendy discussed gastric surgery with her doctor. She was told she’d have to attend a weight-loss clinic for 12 weeks to prove her dedication to losing weight – but still failed to shift the pounds.
“They wanted me to eat porridge but it gave me diarrhoea, so I ate toast instead,” she admits. “I ate healthy meals like pork steak and boiled potatoes and exercised – lifting cans of beans every day – but it didn’t help.”
Inevitably, her bypass funding was refused. Wendy, who has arthritis and high blood pressure, says: “I sobbed. It’s not fair.”
Despite her weight battle, Wendy is adamant Sean is supportive. She says: “I’m too big to get on a plane to go abroad, so we have to holiday in the UK, but Sean reassures me it’s not a problem.”
“Sean will have fish, while I’ll have pasta or stews. When he goes to the gym, I do physio exercises such as ankle rotations, but, if my legs are sore, I’ll have a cup of tea and go on Facebook.”
Explaining they eat together, but have different meals, she says: “Sean will have fish, while I’ll have pasta or stews. When he goes to the gym, I do physio exercises such as ankle rotations, but, if my legs are sore, I’ll have a cup of tea and go on Facebook.”
Now, despite admitting she eats big portions, she blames the NHS for her current situation.
Wendy, who insists she no longer snacks, now typically eats Rice Krispies or two slices of toast, followed by a cheese sandwich and large portion of pasta. She says: “I know I eat more than I should, but I feel let down. I’m costing the state so much in benefits, and the NHS has offered me walking frames and a custom-made shower – all that costs money.
“They’d be better off paying for the op. I want to work and play with my granddaughter, but I can only walk five steps. I need a gastric bypass – there’s nothing more I can do.”