大象传媒

In September 2014, weighing 32 stone, 28-year-old Gary Bird had a gastric bypass on the NHS. Gary lost 17 stone in 12 months, and has been left with two stones of excess skin:

鈥淭here鈥檚 loads of skin hanging down everywhere and it makes me feel disgusting really," he told 5 live Daily's Adrian Chiles.

The NHS will not pay for an operation to remove the skin, as it would class as cosmetic surgery. Gary has turned to crowdfunding and loans to pay for the operation, "Through the donations I got just over five thousand pounds," he says, the rest will be paid for with savings and a small bank loan.

鈥淢y mum would give into me a little bit [鈥�] I didn鈥檛 really have many friends growing up so my life was just eating really,鈥� Gary says, explaining how his weight progressed to 32 stone.

After the initial gastric operation, Gary lost weight rapidly: 鈥淭he process should take two years to lose the weight, but mine came off in just under 12 months as I was so determined and wanted to live my life鈥�.

This clip was originally broadcast on 5 live Daily on Monday 11 January.

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