A nurse says she feels like "a new woman” after losing over six stone in six months.

Kate Dunne, who works at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, said she "hid behind" a bubbly personality to conceal her unnhappiness at being 18 stone.

She said giving up takeways and going on long walks has helped her slim down.

At her lowest ebb, the 35-year-old, of Flanders Court, Walthamstow, was forced to take 15 months sick leave from her work over the last few years due to chronic back pain.

She said: "I was taking painkillers to help with the pain but it was the weight that was causing it.

"I feel like a new woman since losing it. 

"In fact people I haven’t seen for a while often can’t believe I’m the same person.

“For me though it’s the change on the inside that’s been the biggest.

"I’m happier, healthier and much more confident now.

"Before I lost the weight I hid behind a big bubbly personality.

"I’d pretend it didn’t bother me that I was bigger than most other people, but that was far from the truth.”

Ms Dunne also said losing the weight has enabled her to spend more time with her nine-year-old daughter, Kayleigh.

She said: “I found playing with my daughter would leave me tired and out of breath and I was unable to walk her to school.

“She was a massive reason for why I have done this and now we walk to her school, South Grove Primary, together and visit the park regularly.”

Ms Dunne was named Leyton Slimming World’s ‘Greatest Loser’ 2015 last week.

The group meets each Thursday evening at All Saints Church, in Melbourne Road.