My life lesson

Teacher who lost 18st felt like a fraud urging pupils to be active

- HOLLIE BONE

A TEACHER who tipped the scales at 28 stone has lost two-thirds of her bodyweight after feeling like a hypocrite for telling pupils to live healthily.

Kelly Barker, 43, was once worried she would die on the operating table if she had surgery to help her shed pounds.

But since losing 18 stone, Kelly choked back tears after realising how much she had been missing out on due to her weight.

The 10st mum, named Slimming World's woman of 2023, now loves kayaking, rock climbing and fell-walking with son Josh, 15.

Kelly, from St Helens, Merseyside said: "I've always loved my job as a teacher, yet I often felt like a hypocrite, especially when I was teaching children about healthy eating and being active.