A SUPER slimmer who dropped ten dress sizes after shedding 15-stone has been refused NHS funding for a "tummy tuck" because she has not lost enough weight.

Zelda Haxby, of Huntington, in York, has been told by cash-strapped health bosses that she will not qualify for the surgery until she weighs in at 11-stone.

The 44-year-old rocketed to 35-stone when she turned to crisps for comfort after her second child was diagnosed with a serious heart defect.

On her worst days, she would devour 25 packets of crisps and still put away giant-sized meals at lunch and tea-time.

But in April 2006, Zelda decided to get her life back on track and two years later, she has kicked the crisp habit and slimmed down to 20-stone.

She is even in the running for a national award after being nominated as Slimming World's Greatest Loser.

Zelda said: "It isn't as if I haven't shown willing. I pay £4.50 every week to go to Slimming World and I've lost 15-stone.

"I would really like to go to the gym now and start exercising, but my stomach area is holding me back because I can't get into any kind of trousers and I can't wear a dress to the gym."

Zelda, who has two sons James, 12, and Liam, 16, made the decision to lose weight when she realised her obesity might mean she would not live to see them grow up.

She said: "A few years ago I went into hospital with a bad infection. It was all related to my weight and I think it finally dawned on me that I needed to do something.

"I hated being away from my two boys and I didn't want to have to go back into hospital again.

"James was born with half a heart and has already had three major open heart operations.

"Eventually, he will need a transplant and I began to think, what if I'm not around? The boys need me."

Zelda was a tiny baby, weighing only 4lbs at birth, but has struggled with her weight ever since.

She said: "As a teenager I was a size 16, but it wasn't until James was born that I really began to put on weight.

"I had a lot to deal with because of his heart problems and I was scared to go to sleep because of what might happen to him.

"I used to stay up just eating crisps all night - on a bad night I would get through 15 packets."

Zelda soon became so obese she could not even stand up without her legs giving way under her body weight.

She said: "I was just sitting at home the whole time and I was really unhappy. It got to the stage when I couldn't even walk. Just standing up to go and answer the door was difficult.

"I used to get laughed at and pointed out a lot for being overweight. It upset my boys so much and inside, I was crying my eyes out."

But after following the Slimming World regime for two years, Zelda has now dropped from dress size 38 to 18 and has celebrated by hitting the shops with her friends.

She said: "I used to be very limited with what I could wear and I had to shop from magazines. Now I can go into shops like Monsoon - it's fantastic.

"I've just bought a new dress to wear to the Slimming World awards ceremony in London - and I can't wait."


Decision based on patient's needs and duty of care'

What the North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust said...

"Body contouring surgery is not routinely commissioned by the Primary Care Trust (PCT).

"However we do operate an individual case panel' to look at cases where there may be exceptional clinical reasons why such a procedure should be funded on the NHS.

"An individual case panel comprises of a number of doctors, who look at the evidence provided by the patient's consultant and GP.

"The PCT has a responsibility to consider the evidence base for the clinical and cost effectiveness of a treatment for a particular patient, whilst recognising the PCT's responsibility to prioritise NHS resources on meeting the overall health needs of the population we serve. Body contouring surgery, like all surgeries, carries a surgical risk.

"The risks of body contouring surgery can be reduced by maintaining a body mass index (BMI) of under-25 and having maintained a stable weight for 12 months.

"The PCT considers examples of exceptional clinical need when the problem arising from excess skin has a significant impact on a patient's mobility and active daily living. As with all cases of this kind, our decision is based on the individual needs of each patient, alongside our duty to deliver care for the whole population of North Yorkshire."


What is a tummy tuck?

Tummy tuck surgery, also called abdominoplasty, is an operation to remove folds of skin left behind after losing a lot of weight.


Zelda's typical menu when 35st

* Night snacking: Up to 15 packets of crisps* No breakfast* Morning snacking: Another three to five packets of crisps and the occasional chocolate bar* Lunch: Two sausage rolls, a Cornish pasty and a chicken mayo sandwich* Afternoon snacking: Another three to five packets of crisps* Tea: A roast beef dinner, including three giant Yorkshire puddings, seven roast potatoes, parsnips and lots of green vegetables* Evening snacking: More crisps* Preferred drink: Coke and other fizzy drinks.


Zelda's typical menu today

* Breakfast: Two Weetabix, with skimmed milk and bananas, half a grapefruit and fresh strawberries* Morning snack: Yoghurt and fruit* Lunch: Jacket potato with beans and salad* Tea: Roast dinner, but with no Yorkshire puddings and much smaller portions of meat and vegetables* Preferred drink: Water.