'When I felt breathless climbing stairs, I knew I had to lose weight'

11 April 2023 , 08:20

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Steve Chiswell, from Worthing in West Sussex, had a dangerously high BMI

Lots of us struggle to manage our weight. But for food vlogger Steve Chiswell, 41, it’s a battle that’s made even tougher by his job – which involves being paid to eat.

“My youngest child, Fifi, was a fussy eater, so we started making food videos together,” says Steve, from West Sussex.

“I’d let her choose the ingredients she wanted to try, and we’d film ourselves cooking them. Our posts became really popular, so five years ago I sold my removals business to become a full time vlogger.

“As well as home cooking, I started showcasing local restaurants, offsetting all the extra calories by going down the gym. But then, when the pandemic hit, both restaurants and gyms closed – so I started reviewing takeaways instead. That’s when I started gaining weight.”

Having kept at a steady 13st for several years, Steve’s weight crept up to over 18st. With a BMI (body mass index) of 34.5 – the healthy range for an adult is 18.5-24.9 – his health was now at risk.

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“I’ve got asthma, and being overweight makes that worse,” he explains. “Simple things such as standing up and going upstairs can make me breathless, which is worrying.

"A few months ago my doctor told me I risk developing high blood pressure or type-2 diabetes if I don’t do something about my weight. I already knew I should do something, but that really brought it home.

'When I felt breathless climbing stairs, I knew I had to lose weight'

'I already feel so much better – I’ve got more energy and my mental health has improved'

“Since then, I’ve cut down on alcohol and fizzy drinks, and choose healthier options from the menu when I eat out for work. I’ve also started taking a Boots multivitamin to help supplement my diet, and I’ve taken up photography to get me outside more. Taking pictures of the sunrise certainly gets me out of bed bright and early!”

More than two in three adults are classified as overweight or obese in the UK, and many of us don’t realise that our weight could be affecting our health.

Boots' superintendent pharmacist Claire Nevinson explains, “Your BMI is a ratio of your weight to your height and indicates whether you're a healthy weight for your height."

“Being overweight or obese can significantly increase your risk of certain health conditions such as type-2 diabetes, heart disease and even cancer.”

In the past, Steve’s attempts to achieve and maintain a healthy weight have been hampered by a lack of motivation. But this time he’s planning on using the advice and support available at Boots Online Doctor to keep him on track.

Boots Online Doctor's 10-week weight-loss programme offers expert advice on everything from setting realistic targets to beating cravings, while a team of experts is on hand to answer questions live via free weekly webinars*.

“I already feel so much better – I’ve got more energy, my mental health has improved and I’ve lost half a stone,” says Steve. “And Boots Online Doctor sounds like a great way of staying motivated.

“I love that you can log in at your leisure. Also, I felt a bit anxious about having a one-on-one consultation, so the webinars were really useful – in fact, they're good for anyone who’s a bit shy. I’ll definitely be logging on, because this time I’m determined to succeed.”