A man who weighed nearly 36 stone has lost more than eight stone after a fertility warning from doctors made him reassess his health and future plans to become a father. Craig Wright, 33, from Leven in Fife, said he reached his heaviest weight of 35st 11lb (228kg) in May 2024 after what he describes as years of 'rollercoaster' weight gain.
He described the period as 'living in a prison', saying he could not take his dog for a walk, had difficulty sitting in chairs and often collected prescriptions at night to avoid being seen. His life-changing journey began after his wife, Samantha, joined Slimming World in early 2024. Craig followed shortly afterwards, but said the reality of his weight became clear only when he stepped on the scales at his first group meeting.
“I stood on the scales and I just looked straight ahead,” he said. “The consultant wrote down the number and I saw it, and I was taken aback because I knew I was big, but I didn’t think I was that big. It put the fear of God in me, as I was just not expecting it to be that much.”
Craig said the moment forced him to confront the impact his weight was having on his life, including his hopes of starting a family. “I knew I needed to do something, otherwise I was not going to live my life to the fullest, have a baby, or see my dog grow old. All those things just hit me all at once and I got a bit emotional. Seeing it was just awful.”
Craig, who is an admin assistant, said his relationship with food had been shaped by emotional eating from a young age, as well as bullying at school. He said he would often turn to food for comfort after difficult days, creating what he described as a 'vicious cycle'. He also pointed to family habits, saying he grew up around frequent takeaway meals and large portions, which he later realised were unhealthy. His father, James, who worked as a delivery driver, died at 53 after suffering three heart attacks. Craig was 14 at the time.
As an adult, Craig’s eating habits worsened while working at McDonald’s from the age of 18, where he says easy access to food made it harder to control his diet. Working night shifts also disrupted his routine, leading to frequent takeaways and high-calorie meals. At his heaviest, Craig was consuming an estimated 7,000 calories a day, with meals including large breakfasts, fast food lunches and regular evening takeaways, followed by snacks. Exercise became increasingly limited, with Craig saying he could only manage short walks with his dog before becoming breathless.
“I’d take our dog Kobi for a walk and I’d get out to the gate, but I could only walk to the end of the road, which is maybe 30 steps,” he said. “Then I had to stop because I was out of breath.”
After several failed attempts to lose weight in the past, Craig said a fertility consultation marked a turning point, when doctors advised that improving his health would be important for his chances of having a child. Shortly afterwards, he joined Slimming World alongside his wife and began gradually rebuilding his fitness through walking and group support.
Craig said progress initially focused on small goals, such as walking short distances and increasing activity levels with his dog. “It was six months into it - where I managed to do my first 5k walk - that I felt most proud. Now I feel like I can do 5k in my sleep!” he said.
Since starting his weight loss journey, Craig has lost more than eight stone and reduced from an 8XL clothing size to around 4XL. He now follows a more structured routine, including regular walks and exercise classes and has improved his diet significantly. A typical day now includes a high-protein breakfast, two daily walks with his dog, and evening strength or boxing sessions.
Craig said the change has also improved his mindset and energy levels. “I no longer feel like I’m just in the gutter 24/7, and I’m definitely a lot more positive than before.” He and Samantha continue to try for a baby and say they have been encouraged by medical professionals as they progress.
Craig said his experience has reinforced the importance of acting early on health concerns. “The longer you leave something, the worse it gets. So if you catch something early and you do something about it, you’re moving in the right direction.”
