A teenager has managed to shed more than five stone in around seven months and is in the process of enjoying a healthier new life.

Josh Battrum, of Canberra Gardens in Sittingbourne, weighed about 19 stone until last year when he decided to make the change to slim down.

The 17-year-old helps out at his grandfather’s jewellers, Battrum & Son, in the High Street.

Josh was home-schooled after leaving Westlands School in the middle of Year 8.

He said: “I wasn’t bullied but I was just really down when I started secondary school after moving from primary school.”

He added that his moods contributed to his weight as he started to eat more in the hope it would make him feel better.

“I’ve got pictures that, looking back at them makes me feel sad,” he said.

He continued: “I don’t like looking at them when they come up as I’m going through my camera roll sometimes, even from about a year ago.

“It makes me happy to know in seven months I have lost that amount of weight.

“I always knew that I wanted to be slimmer but it wasn’t until a few months ago when I thought I had to start. It’s happened very quickly.

“I was getting older and I wanted to get a job and be able to fit in clothes that I could get off the shelves at the shops. I just wanted to fit in nice clothes.

“It was my dad who told me to start Slimming World. It was his idea.

“Once I started noticing the weight coming off, it made me more determined to do it.”

Now standing at about 13 stone, Josh is hoping to lose even more and is training regularly at Swallows Leisure Centre in Central Avenue, Sittingbourne.

“I’m still on it and I’m hoping to get to about 12 stone,” he added.

“People are always shocked by how much I’ve lost but it’s because I’ve been going to the meetings since.

“The group I go to is really supportive and my sister and friend actually come with me to support me every week.”

He even snubbed having any birthday cake on his 17th birthday in March in order to stay on track with his plan.

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