"Brendan and I had struggled with our weight for years. I could see the kids were gaining weight too." At the start of 2006, Debbie and Brendan, who both work for the police, each weighed 16st 4st. During a visit to his GP, Brendan was told his blood pressure was too high. During this time, Debbie's self-esteem was at an all-time low because of her weight and she was taking medication for depression. “When we heard about Brendan's blood pressure, we knew we really had to take action,” she says. “Our oldest daughter, Rhiannon, is 21. She was 12 pounds, about 21 pounds overweight.” Eldest son Liam and youngest child Ciaran, 13, could also have benefited from losing a few pounds, says Debbie. “I didn’t want the kids to grow up with the same health issues as us.” When a friend recommended local weight loss classes, Debbie immediately booked a slot for her and Brendan. “It was quite intimidating at first,” says Debbie. “But we both quickly found that the courses were a huge support for us.” A consultant provided advice on diet and exercise during weekly meetings and group members were encouraged to share their opinions.