Morbidly obese mother who weighed 31st branded ‘selfish’ for relying on daughter to look after her

A morbidly obese mother who weighed 31st and was branded ‘selfish’ for relying on her daughter to look after her when she was just 11-years-old revealed her 10st weight loss on Shut-Ins: Britain’s Fattest People.

Last night’s episode of the Channel 4 show caught up with those who appeared in the first series of the programme to find out how they were getting on two years later. 

When viewers last met Claire, from Southampton, she weighed 31st, had been confined to her bed for over eight years, and admitted she was reliant on her daughter Jasmine, now 21, for her personal needs.

However, she’s since revealed that she’s 10st lighter, able to move around, and goes out every day in her wheelchair. 

‘I’m not the same person – I think I’m a better person,’ explained Claire. ‘I didn’t have any hope of getting out. I thought being in bed was where I’d end up, where I’d die.’  

Two years ago, Claire, from Southampton, weighed 31st, and had been confined to her bed for over eight years (pictured, at her heaviest)

In last night's episode, she revealed she is now 10st lighter (pictured) and able to move around

In last night’s episode, she revealed she is now 10st lighter (pictured) and able to move around

In one emotional clip, Jasmine (pictured) could be seen breaking down in tears as she explained how much her mother relied on her

In one emotional clip, Jasmine (pictured) could be seen breaking down in tears as she explained how much her mother relied on her 

Taking to Twitter, one viewer penned: 'What a shame, she's 21 and had no social life because of her selfish mother' (pictured)

Taking to Twitter, one viewer penned: ‘What a shame, she’s 21 and had no social life because of her selfish mother’ (pictured)

Two years ago, Claire was living in the four walls of her living room.

‘I hate being shut in it’s the worse thing ever,’ she said previously. ‘It feels like a slow death. It feels like the whole world has forgotten me.’

Claire had struggled with her weight from an early age. She had a difficult upbringing and over the years, she continued to pile on the pounds – and branded carbs her ‘trigger food.’

Her 19-year-old daughter Jasmine remembered very different times.

‘When I was younger my mum was happy,’ she explained. ‘She was always laughing with friends at the time.’

Bu since she was 11-years-old, an emotional Jasmine fought back the tears as she told how she had been putting her mother’s needs first.

During last night's episode, Claire (pictured), told how she no longer wanted to be a 'burden'

During last night’s episode, Claire (pictured), told how she no longer wanted to be a ‘burden’

‘I love my mum, don’t get me wrong, but its very difficult to get up in the morning sometimes because of what I have to do,’ she said. ‘You shouldn’t have to look after you mum – your mum looks after you.’ 

And viewers took to Twitter to sympathise with Jasmine, with one writing: ‘What a shame, she’s 21 and had no social life because of her selfish mother.’

A second penned: ‘She seems to put a lot on the daughter,’ while a third wrote: ‘You already left your children the day you got too fat to move.’

But Claire went on to say how she no longer wanted to be a ‘burden.’

‘I wish I didn’t have to be looked after,’ she said. ‘I want to just have a life. I don’t want to be shut in. I’d love to be able to go out with my grandkids and walk my dog, and strange things like washing up – just normal things.’

Claire’s hopes of turning her life around were left in the hands of bariatric surgeon Nick Carter – who wanted her to consume only 800 calories a day for two weeks in preparation for surgery. So she swapped solid food for a diet of milk.  

Having stuck to the diet and losing almost 2st, Claire was ready for surgery – but another operation was booked after a lump was found which turned out to be cancer.

Three months later, having lost more weight, Claire was ready for the incredibly complicated double surgery.

Just weeks after bariatric surgery, and for the first time in over a decade, Claire (pictured) left her house on her own two feet

Just weeks after bariatric surgery, and for the first time in over a decade, Claire (pictured) left her house on her own two feet

Claire (pictured), who now weighs 23sti, is no longer as reliant on daughter Jasmine for her personal needs

Claire (pictured), who now weighs 23sti, is no longer as reliant on daughter Jasmine for her personal needs

Claire now has her own bedroom to use, life for the family is no longer confined to one room. Pictured, in the living room

Claire now has her own bedroom to use, life for the family is no longer confined to one room. Pictured, in the living room

Just weeks later, and for the first time in over a decade, Claire left her house on her own two feet. 

In six months, she lost 8st and now weighs 23st. She’s no longer as reliant on daughter Jasmine for her personal needs.

‘I’ve just turned 21 and 21-year-old’s go out clubbing and hanging around with friends,’ said Jasmine. ‘I wasn’t really doing that beforehand, but now I am. So I am happier.’   

And now Claire has her own bedroom to use, life for the family is no longer confined to one room. 

‘We can do proper family stuff together and I can join in together,’ she enthused. ‘It makes a difference.’ 

Meanwhile, two years ago, Andrew, 51, from Cotswolds, who used to weigh 37st, struggled to walk from one end of the house to the other, but since then he’s undergone a spectacular transformation – and has lost a staggering 22st.

‘I’ve lost almost two thirds of myself,’ he said. There was a point in my life where i was just waiting to die, but now I feel as if there is a future. Psychologically I just feel like a different person.’ 

And viewers were left gobsmacked by his impressive transformation, with one writing: ‘Nice one, Andrew!’ while a second penned: ‘Losing 22stone must feel like you really have got a new life. He looks amazing.’

Two years ago, Andrew, 51, from the Cotswolds, weighed 37st (pictured) and struggled to walk from one end of the house to the other

Two years ago, Andrew, 51, from the Cotswolds, weighed 37st (pictured) and struggled to walk from one end of the house to the other

Since then Andrew has undergone a spectacular transformation - and has lost a staggering 22st (pictured, now)

Since then Andrew has undergone a spectacular transformation – and has lost a staggering 22st (pictured, now)

At his heaviest, Andrew, whose downfall was carbohydrates and takeaways, was super morbidly obese and found life very difficult.

‘At the moment, I do nothing, I just exist,’ he said in the episode which aired two years ago. ‘I don’t seem to e doing anything worthwhile. 

Crippled by growing anxiety and eating 6,000 calories a day – more than double what he needed – he became shut in and rarely left the house.

‘My opinion of myself isn’t particularly good at all,’ he said. ‘My self-worth is just non-existent.’ 

‘I have walked past my reflection and thought, “Who is that? Oh its me” I just don’t see myself as that person.’ 

His weight led to variety of weight-related conditions – including cellulitis, an underlying heart problem, and sleep apnoea – and he needed a machine to stop his throat closing up in the night.

Andrew's weight led to variety of weight-related conditions - including cellulitis, an underlying heart problem, and sleep apnoea. Pictured, at his heaviest

Andrew’s weight led to variety of weight-related conditions – including cellulitis, an underlying heart problem, and sleep apnoea. Pictured, at his heaviest

No longer anxious about the outside world, he has since been able to return to work and spends his days checking roads for damage.

No longer anxious about the outside world, he has since been able to return to work and spends his days checking roads for damage.

Taking to Twitter, many praised Andrew for his dramatic transformation, with one writing: 'Fantastic job! He looks great' (pictured)

Taking to Twitter, many praised Andrew for his dramatic transformation, with one writing: ‘Fantastic job! He looks great’ (pictured)

‘Looking back I can see how bad I was – how much of my life I wasn’t living,’ said Andrew. 

Desperate for his life to change, he booked an appointment for a new type of bariatric surgery, which asked him to adopt a completely new way of eating.

Having proved he could stick to a high protein diet, he was on track for surgery, which meant he would not only be able to eat less, but would absorb far fewer calories.

In one month, he lost 3st and gradually started going out and about and going to the gym.

‘What an amazing success story he’s been,’ said the bariatric surgeon. ‘This is a guy who started off with a BMI over 68 and significant health problems and now he’s got healthy blood results – and he looks fabulous. 

No longer anxious about the outside world, Andrew has since been able to return to work and spends his days checking roads for damage. 

‘I’m immeasurably more happy than I was before,’ he said. ‘Eighteen months ago I wouldn’t have fitted in a van – it was that serious. I now have a future to live for – it’s exciting and scary at the same time.’