An obese mum-of-five who lost half her body weight was told by doctors to put a stone back on – because she was getting too skinny.

Zoe Rushton dropped an astonishing eight stone when she started a weight loss programme at 16st 6lb five years ago.

The 29-year-old, of Cornwallis Avenue, Aylesham, was inspired to shed the pounds after seeing a photograph of her holding her son’s birthday cake.

“I just thought ‘look at the size of me’,” she recalls. “There were times when I kept looking at myself and I just realised I had to do something about it.

“It just made me really determined to do it.

“I lost eight stone, but the doctor told me that I had to put another stone back on because I had got too thin.

“He said that if I put that stone on, I would be healthy.”

Zoe, who works as a healthcare assistant, started going to weekly Weight Watchers sessions at the community centre in Ackholt Road.

She says it encouraged her to start and maintain her weight loss. She said: “The lady who ran the classes was brilliant.

“It’s really hard and you just have to be determined to keep doing it. You get weighed every week so you can see how you’re doing.

“Obviously, cutting out snacks and biscuits between meals is a big part of it. You can still eat those things, but it’s all about just how much.

"This has totally transformed my life" - Zoe Rushton

“Even if I put some weight on at Christmas, I now know how to take it off.

“I’m really happy about it. This has totally transformed my life.”

Zoe, whose children are aged between four and 14, is hoping her story will prompt others to follow her example.

“Although it’s tough, I’m living proof that you can do it,” she added.