A woman who weighed 27st and a half stone looks unrecognisable after almost halving her bodyweight. Elle Kearney, from South , underwent lifechanging gastric bypass surgery after breaking down in tears to her GP about her size. The 27-year-old, who said she has been bullied most of her life over her weight, has now dropped 12st and said she feels like she has been given "a second chance".
Prior to having surgery, which involves having part of the stomach removed, Elle was wearing size 32 clothes and felt "segregated from society". However when she was told there was "no chance" she would be able to have IVF with her girlfriend, of 12 years, Steph, due to her weight, she knew she needed to act. Speaking to the ECHO Elle said: "I struggled all my life with my weight, from being a child I have dealt with some struggles.
I was bullied in schools and jobs. It was something I couldn't get away from on my own, it made me feel segregated from society, like I was on the outskirts and couldn't participate. "It really affected my self confidence, I got up to 27 and a half stone at the age of 26.
I felt so ill, I was so worried that I was going to have a heart attack. I felt like I was dying, every day or week I was feeling myself getting more sick. I couldn't move, or walk to my local supermarket.
I couldn't stand to do dishes at the sink, I had to sit down to do them, it got so bad I couldn't perform normal duties without it causing me massive pain. I was so ill, I didn't want people t.
