Single mother Devinia Carby had spent years accepting her weight as something she simply had to endure. But during a routine blood pressure check at her GP surgery, she knew things had to change.

Tipping the scales at nearly 25st, she recognised her future health prospects looked grim. The 46-year-old explained: "My mind went straight to my mum, who had high blood pressure and diabetes. She passed away in 2022 after a lifetime of illness and medical complications and I pictured my daughter, Nayla-Hope, caring for me the way I'd cared for my mum.

"I couldn't let that be her future. I realised it was time to take control and break the cycle."

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So in March 2024, the council employee from Brent signed up to Slimming World. Whilst this wasn't her first attempt, she said this time she approached it with a "clear purpose and completely different mindset".

She explained: "I'd been a member before, however this time I followed the plan closely and what a difference it made. Going to the group each week and hearing how encouraging others were was the motivation I needed."

Davinia revealed that juggling work and single parenthood had meant preparing fresh meals every evening seemed impossible. She admitted: "In the past, we relied on takeaways four nights a week. Being inspired by other members of my Slimming World group, I started prepping my meals in advance."

"Now, each Sunday I batch cook meals for the week ahead with Nayla-Hope and freeze portions. In fact, one of the best tips I've picked up from other members at my Slimming World group is to match my meals to the weather.

"On cold days, having a hot meal already planned stops me slipping off course. Sunday roasts are a family favourite – chicken, Slimming World roast potatoes, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower cheese from the Slimming World food range."

She explained how she started putting on weight after having children, Micah, now 25, Kyle, 22 and Nayla-Hope, seven. She said: "I'd spent years struggling with my weight and always felt like the biggest person in the room.

"After believing for so long that losing weight was impossible, I've proved to myself that it isn't. My blood pressure is now in the normal range and I'm sleeping so much better.

"I've gone from a size 28 to a size 12 by eating meals which don't make me feel as if I'm missing out. One of the most emotional moments was when Nayla-Hope wrapped her arms fully around me for the first time; hearing her say she could finally hug me properly brought me to tears.

"Losing 13 stone hasn't just changed my life – it's transformed my heart health and given me the chance to be the strong, healthy mum I once only dreamed of. Standing here today feels like a beautiful victory."

Approximately 1.4 million people across the UK are currently living after surviving a heart attack, with over 170,000 deaths every year attributed to heart and circulatory diseases. Whilst being overweight is a significant risk factor, studies demonstrate that even moderate, consistent weight loss can substantially lower the danger.

Lisa Maskell, Devinia's Slimming World Consultant, said: "I'm so incredibly proud of Devinia. She's walked back into our group this time with a completely different mindset and watching her embrace every step of her journey has been inspiring.

"Losing 13 stone is an amazing achievement on its own, but what means even more is seeing her blood pressure come down, her pain ease and her confidence grow week by week. She's proof that when you combine belief in yourself with the support of group, healthy eating and moving more, life can change in the most powerful ways."

For 56 years, the Slimming World programme has been supporting individuals in developing healthier habits surrounding food, drink and physical activity. Alexandra Clark, Registered Nutritionist at Slimming World, says: "Heart and circulatory diseases cause around a quarter of all UK deaths each year, so stories like Devinia's show just how life-changing community support and evidence-based guidance can be.

"Slimming World's flexible, satisfying eating plan is built around real food and everyday routines, helping members lose weight in a way that feels enjoyable and sustainable. For Devinia, those small, achievable steps have become lasting, heart-healthy habits."

Alexandra has outlined five practical strategies to help people lower their risk and feel healthier, fitter and more empowered. She recommended:

• Manage your weight - being a healthy weight is one of the key things you can do to support your heart health and losing just 5% of your body weight can reduce the risk of heart disease


• Limit salt intake - eating too much salt can increase the risk of high blood pressure, which in turn is a risk factor for heart disease. Cooking from scratch and checking salt levels on labels (adults are recommended no more than 6g of salt a day) can help to reduce salt intake


• Cut down on unhealthy fat - high intakes of saturated fat for example fatty meats, butter, cakes, pastries can lead to high cholesterol levels and weight gain, so we’re advised to reduce our intake of these. Meanwhile, including more omega 3 fats found in oily fish, like salmon and mackerel, plus nuts and seeds, like walnuts and chia seeds, can be beneficial for heart health.


• Fill up on fibre - as well as keeping our digestive systems working well, fibre can help with satisfying our appetite helping with weight management, plus some fibre-containing foods are particularly good for our cholesterol levels, such as oats, beans, peas and lentils


• Get active - moving more is one of the most powerful things you can do for your heart. Regular activity helps lower the risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. And it all counts – a brisk walk, a cycle outdoors, a swim or class at the gym, even housework or gardening. Aim to include 1–2 strength building sessions a week too, to support muscle and bone health alongside reducing your risk of heart disease.

Dr Pauline Swift, Chair of Blood Pressure UK said: "Half of all strokes, a third of heart disease and a high proportion of kidney disease cases are due to high blood pressure. Lowering your blood pressure can be achieved quite easily, by reducing your salt intake and if necessary, taking blood pressure lowering tablets which are mostly very well tolerated."

She added: "Furthermore, simple improvements in diet and lifestyle such as doing more frequent, short bursts of exercise and eating more fruit and vegetables can really help keep blood pressure down."

For further details on Slimming World groups, to become a member or register online for recipes, advice and support visit slimmingworld.co.uk or ring 0344 897 8000.

• Starting weight: 24st 12lbs/158.1kg


• Weight lost: 13st/82.8kg


• Current weight: 11st 12lbs/75.3kg


• Height: 5ft 7ins/170cm

What Devinia ate before:

Breakfast: Nothing

Lunch: Pasty and chips

Dinner: Takeaway Chinese or chicken and chips

Snacks: Doughnuts, crisps

What Devinia eats now

Breakfast: Fat free yogurt, fruit, healthy extra portion of granola, chia seeds

Lunch: Homemade Scotch eggs or mini frittatas with salad

Dinner: Spag bol, Sunday roast, Slimming World’s Cauliflower Mac n Cheese, available from Iceland or The Food Warehouse

Snacks: Boiled eggs, chicken pieces, homemade Eton mess.