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Private Notes
This week Dr Una meets 36-year-old Steve Barratt, who lives in Northampton with his wife and 5-year-old son, Joe. Steve reckons he's a normal guy living a normal life, a self-proclaimed alpha male. But Dr Una's expert eye sees a much different picture. With his beer gut and man boobs, rather than a happy family man, she sees a walking time bomb.
Lesley is a 52-year-old larger than life Londoner who lives with her husband and 18-year-old son in Islington. She is 5' 3''and weighs 14 stone, classing her obese. Lesley has gradually gained weight and now at her heaviest ever, wants to get her weight under control. Drinking alcohol is one of this seasoned party-girl's favourite past times and she describes herself as one of the first binge-drinkers, out clubbing it up 20 years ago.
Can Dr Una reverse the effects of 20 years of physical and mental neglect for 40-year-old Jo Mayne? Jo is a visiting officer for the local council. Not only is the job stressful, so is spending so much time on the road. Come Friday night, her stress levels are so high that she does what many people do, and drinks herself into oblivion. She also smokes heavily, and admits to using most feelings - happy, sad, stressed, bored - as an excuse for a cigarette.
This week Dr Una meets 36-year-old Becki Cronin from Stratford. Becki doesn't worry about her health. She enjoys going drinking with her mates, eats junk, never exercises and usually smokes 20 cigarettes a day. She's young and having fun, so why shouldn't she? Dr Una knows better. Just by looking at the surface she can tell that Becki could have some serious health problems ahead of her. With her saggy skin and crows' feet, she already looks a lot older than her 36 years, and her mottled skin and poor muscle tone are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the damage her lifestyle could have already done to her body.
This week Dr Una meets 41-year-old Sarah Keeley from Darlington. Far from life beginning at 40, Sarah feels as if she is spiralling into a decline. She has no energy and constantly feels ill. From the minute Dr Una sees Sarah she can tell something is wrong just by looking. Sarah is obese, out of shape, and looks exhausted.
This week Dr Una's patient is 30-year-old account manager Neil Walsh. Neil lives on his own in a bachelor pad in London. He recently split up with girlfriend and to help himself get over it, he's taken to partying - big time. Neil admits to drinking excessively at least five times a week. He may thing that he's an average 30 year old with an active social life but the amount of booze he drinks is shocking. On an average week he consumes 140 units, the equivalent of 70 pints of larger.
This week Dr Una meets 29-year-old Michelle Parkes. The last time Michelle felt comfortable with her weight was three years ago when she married her husband, Neil. Since then, with the big 'three o' looming, Michelle has piled on the pounds and has gone from a trim size 14 to a bulging size 20.
David, 46, lives with his wife Jay. He is a clerical worker for a phone company. As a heavy smoker and drinker, David is not giving himself a good chance at a long life. He survives on a diet of junk, never does any exercise and has a stressful, desk-based job. His health is deteriorating and his concerned wife fears she may not have many years left with him.
