IN AN attempt to beat the bullies who ridiculed her for being overweight, 16-year-old Caitlyn Byrne is now healthier and happier than ever before after dropping nearly two stone since January.

The teenager said she would feel upset and deeply hurt by the taunting bullies who made fun of her 13 stone weight, leaving the New College student feeling down in the dumps.

But not wanting to let them win, Caitlyn, who lives in Park North, set about transforming her life, including her diet and joined the Greenbridge Slimming World Group with her mum in January.

Now, four months on and she is celebrating losing nearly two stone.

“It was the same people that kept calling me names so I eventually moved school from Commonweal to Churchfields,” she said.

“It is not nice to see people your own age call you those names about what you look like. I wasn’t unhealthy but I enjoyed eating nice things. I also ate bad things as well and I knew I needed to change because I wasn’t happy and I never really did anything about it.

“I never turned to food as comfort from the name calling but I did get really upset by it all. Sometimes it would be quite nasty things they used to say which is what I would get down about but I tried to handle myself as much as I could.”

Caitlyn now cooks everything from fresh and has banished takeaways and frozen food from her life.

The Greenbridge Slimming World Group also supports another young slimmer - Becky Woodward who joined when she was just 18, weighing 14 stone.

Now aged 20, Becky hopes that her story along with Caitlyn’s inspires other teenagers who may be struggling with their weight to get help and support from groups such as Slimming World where people know exactly how they feel.

“I wasn’t comfortable at the size I was,” Becky said.

“I was in a size 20 and borderline 22 and it was that possibility of making a leap that made me want to change.

“I would encourage teenagers who may be struggling with their weight to make sure they talk to an adult. It is handy having them there for any help, even if it is just to listen.

“If you are worried about something or someone, talk about it. I’ve changed the way I cook but everyone should enjoy life. Don’t think that you have to cut everything out by being on a diet or a weight loss programme like Slimming World.

“It is about cutting back and making healthier choices.”

Lisa Watson, who runs the Greenbridge Slimming World group, added: “Obesity in young people is such a huge problem and it affects how they feel about themselves as well as their physical health. Now both Becky and Caitlyn have the skills to make healthier choices and they are much more confident too. I hope they inspire other young people in Swindon by showing them that there is no better time to take control of their weight than right now.”

To find out more information about joining Slimming World, visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk or call Lisa Watson on 07897340665.