LIKE many students of his age, healthy eating was not top of the timetable for 21-year-old Ian Eyers.

He also had a part-time job at a fast food restaurant so his daily diet often consisted of burgers and chips.

But although he had often battled with his weight, it wasn’t until he struggled to climb the stairs to the college library that he realised he had to take action.

“By the time I got there I was totally out of breath and felt generally unwell”, explains Ian who tipped the scales at more than 17 and a half stone at his heaviest.

“I’d tried numerous diets in the past but always gave up after a few weeks as any weight I lost would go straight back on.”

But when a close friend lost five stone through Slimming World, Ian eventually plucked up the courage in January to visit his local club in Westbourne.

“Being only 21 years of age and male, I was extremely nervous entering what I knew was a female dominated environment, but I found all the members extremely supportive.”

Within 10 weeks Ian had lost ten per cent of his entire body weight.

“I couldn’t believe how easy it was.

“I was never hungry, I could eat unlimited amounts of healthy foods and was still able to consume the things that are forbidden on other diets.”

His mum has been so inspired by her son that she has also joined a Slimming World group.

Ian has also achieved his goal of joining his company’s football team.

“Now exercise is part of my life,” he says. “I’ve gone from getting out of breath just walking up some stairs in December to taking regular jogs and playing football and badminton.”

Ian, who has lost nearly three stone, has now won Slimming World’s annual Man of the Year competition.

His consultant Rhonda Felton says: “We are all incredibly proud of Ian.

“He is such an inspiration to all young males out there.”