A woman who lost four stone in as many months has urged people to get behind a national campaign to tackle obesity.

Leanne Churchyard, from Colchester, who dropped three dress sizes, says her life has been transformed after she went from 14.5 stone to 10.5 stone.

She says she worries far less about her self-image and health problems related to being overweight and wants people to sign up to the aspirations behind the National Obesity Awareness week, which is running at the moment.

The campaign promotes eating healthily and exercising more often in an attempt to stem a growing obesity crisis, which the government estimates could affect half the UK population by 2050.

Mrs Churchyard, 41, who works as an operations manager for Capita Insurance in Colchester, said she pledged to shed the pounds after her mother suffered from breast cancer and ovarian cancer, and she knew she might develop the disease herself if she didn’t change her lifestyle.

She signed up to the Cambridge Weight Plan, who are sponsors of National Obesity Awareness Week, and also established a daily dog-walking routine for exercise.

She lost the weight in 2012 and a year later Mrs Churchyard has kept the weight off.

She said: “For me the health benefits of being a healthy weight far outweigh the desire to eat unhealthy food. By losing weight , I have reduced my chances of breast cancer and the added bonus is the pleasure I get at buying a size 12.”

For more information about the diet call Hannah Jarvis on 07540474225 or email hannah.cwp@gmail.com