'I don't want to be the big girl anymore'

By Jane Elliott
Health reporter, BBC News

Lizzie wants to dress with confidence

Lizzie Butler has always been big and curvy.

From the age of eight she started over-eating and gradually her weight crept up.

Her confidence fell, leaving her shy about her body and feeling she was missing out.

Now 13, Lizzie has decided to tackle her weight by enrolling in an NHS community programme - and over the next few months the BBC News website will be following her progress.

I needed to get some new jeans because my old jeans were really big for me and I was down to a 16 from an 18 and I am quite proud of that Lizzie Butler

"I have always been tall and I have always been big," Lizzie said.

"All my friends have boyfriends and they are all kissing and that. I don't have any of that because I am big.

"But it is not all about the boys.

"When I go on holiday I am big and I am shy wearing bikinis and shorts because I have stretch marks and I don't feel comfortable. I don't really enjoy going on holiday because I am big."

Weighty issues

Between a quarter and a third of children are thought to be overweight, and doctors fear there will be an epidemic of poor health related to obesity in coming decades.

Lizzie is very overweight and became aware that her weight was increasing and starting to become a problem.

Although she never ate desserts, her main course portions were much larger than average and she would binge at night on snacks of crisps, chocolate and sweets taken from her brother's snack drawer.

"We are not big pudding eaters," Lizzie's mother Deena said.

"We are more big dinner eaters and portion sizes tended to be bigger than they should be."

"As a family we have all got weight problems.

"We were not a very active family in that we did not go out a lot or do exercise which has probably not helped either."

But she added: "We are more active now."

Lack of exercise

Mrs Butler said she recognised that Lizzie's weight was becoming more of an issue but was "reluctant to call a teenage girl fat, because their bodies are still growing".

"She won't tell me what she weighed. She just won't say, but she was becoming much curvier," she said.

What Lizzie used to eat Breakfast - bran flakes/cocoa pops Morning snack - nothing Lunch - sandwich, drink, cookie Dinner - roast/pasta, sausage and mash - large portions Bedtime snacks - crisps/chocolate/biscuits Exercise - none

She said Lizzie's weight became an issue about five years ago.

"I was actually with a not very nice partner at the time and her brother was just starting going into special education so it was quite a stressful time and I over compensated and so did my parents by feeding her up and that is probably when it started really," she said.

"Lizzie has always been what I would call curvy, but she got a bit too curvy and was not happy with herself and it was only when she became unhappy with herself that I started to intervene.

"Her living environment was stressful enough without that pressure. Her brother has got behavioural problems and is not the easiest person to live with."

What Lizzie eats now Breakfast - bran flakes, with apple or banana Morning snack - apple/cereal bar Lunch - sandwich and drink Dinner - roast/pasta, sausage and mash - small portions Bedtime snack - fruit, water Exercise - Watch It scheme, PE twice a week, gym

Mrs Butler recalled how the family tried to take action.

"Over the last few years when we have tried to steer her in the right direction, it was more by not trying to put weight on as she grew.

"She hated the fact that she was taller than all the boys. She is still quite tall compared to her friends.

"She really does not like being bigger than everyone else.

"She does not want to be the big girl anymore."

Taking control

With the support of her mother, Lizzie has decided to tackle her weight by enrolling in an NHS community programme, called Watch It!, which was developed and pioneered in her home town of Leeds.

It aims to motivate children, aged eight to 15, and their parents to lead healthier lifestyles by giving them individual and group help.

Children and teenagers sign up for a year's programme concentrating on physical activity, nutrition and emotional wellbeing.

Every six months they have hospital tests to see if their health and fitness levels have improved.

Lizzie, who only signed up three weeks ago is already feeling the benefits.

"I go to the gym - it is an all girls gym, so I like that. I also do PE twice a week," she said.

"I feel fine, my mum thinks I am losing a bit of weight.

"I needed to get some new jeans because my old jeans were really big for me and I was down to a 16 from an 18 and I am quite proud of that."