A CHESTER weight loss specialist has helped a man shed more than half his bodyweight following life-changing gastric bypass treatment.

Professor David Kerrigan, founder of Phoenix Health, carried out the procedure on 49-year-old Andrew Hill at the city’s Grosvenor Hospital run by Nuffield Health.

Chester and District Standard:

Andrew Hill has seen his BMI plummet from 66 to 26.

The build-up to the procedure will be featured on Channel 4 programme ‘Shut Ins: Britain's Fattest People', which airs on Tuesday, November 12.

Andrew used to weigh 234kg, which is around 36st 11lb, and had a dangerously high BMI of 66. But he's now a spritely 91kg, or 14st 4lb, with a far healthier BMI of 26.

Prof Kerrigan, who is also President of the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society, said: “Andrew came to us for surgery because his quality of life was so impacted by his very severe obesity. His BMI was way over 40.

Chester and District Standard:

Andrew at the computer with a BMI of 66.

“He was suffering from a number of cardiac and breathing conditions caused by his obesity, and in addition was struggling to conceive with his wife, Sharon, 37, who had already undergone weight-loss treatment through our clinic to improve their chances of having a baby.”

He added: “Being obese is associated with additional physical health risks like diabetes, an increased risk of cancer and heart disease, along with psychological problems like low self-esteem.

Chester and District Standard:

David Kerrigan, founder of Phoenix Health.

“We work closely with our patients to help them manage this long-term and make changes in their dietary habits and lifestyle once they have received treatment.”

Since his treatment, Andrew and his wife Sharon have gone on to lose 28 stone between them.

A catch-up TV programme showing Andrew back in full-time employment and looking amazing at his new BMI of 26 will be aired in early 2020.

* BMI stands for Body Mass Index. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy, according to the NHS.