Kenny loses 22st after heart failure wake-up call

A Blackpool man who used to spend £140 a week on takeaways has completely transformed his life, losing 22st (139.7kg), after collapsing in a supermarket and coming close to a heart attack.

Kenny Higgins, 48, says he recorded a ‘goodbye message’ for his loved ones after being rushed to hospital. He’s since lost 22st – nearly two thirds of his body weight – and won the title of Slimming World’s Greatest Loser 2025 – awarded to the member with the biggest weight loss within the organisation’s 13,000 groups.

Kenny, who at his heaviest weighed 34st 7lbs, says: “I was always the ‘biggest’ kid at school and was bullied because of it – and it only continued to get worse as I got older.

“I was barely living before joining Slimming World. I was too scared to leave the house, and when I did, it was usually for one of my many visits to the hospital. I reached a point where all my health problems became too overwhelming. The extra weight I was carrying caused so much pain in my joints, I could barely walk down the road without struggling. On top of that, I suffered from severe back pain, my asthma was out of control and I was constantly battling chest infections.”

While Kenny had tried various weight-loss methods in the past, nothing worked for him long-term. He says: “I had been referred to nutritionists and other weight-loss groups through my doctor in the past, however I never felt like I was getting any actual support. In the end I’d revert back to my old habits and would be back at square one in no time. I’d been a Slimming World member ten years ago and lost 17st. While it was working well for me, unfortunately life got in the way, and I stopped going to the group and found it hard to keep going without their support.”

The turning point for Kenny this time came when he collapsed while he was shopping with his then six-year-old daughter, Hope. Kenny says: “I was rushed to hospital and the doctors told me I was the verge of having a heart attack. I was initially put on a ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ order because they didn’t believe I’d be able to survive. By some miracle, I managed to pull through. This was the wakeup call I needed to make a change – and this time, for good.”

A few weeks later, Kenny’s friend Bev Houlihan encouraged him to joined Slimming World again and together they headed to a group in Blackpool. He says: “I was worried I’d be judged for regaining the weight I’d lost all those years ago, but I needn’t have been. My Consultant Natalie helped me look at the positives and reminded me that as I’d done it once before, I could do it again – and that’s stuck with me throughout my whole journey.”

Kenny set a weight he wanted to achieve and hasn’t looked back since. He says: “Being able to chat to some of the other members about their journeys gave me the boost I needed to stay hopeful, especially in those early weeks. I was so lonely before joining my group, and for the first time in a long time, I felt part of a community of people who understood me – it was the best feeling knowing that everyone is genuinely rooting for you. We help keep each other accountable too — something I know I’d struggle with on my own.”

Having been a member before, Kenny was able to embrace the healthy eating plan right away. He says: “In the beginning, I felt too embarrassed to go to the shops in case I couldn’t manage the walk. So, instead, I did an online food shop and stocked up on some meals from the Slimming World Free Food range, from my local Iceland store, to get me through the days when cooking wasn’t an option. And as I started losing weight and feeling more confident – both in myself and in the kitchen – I began walking to the shops to pick up the ingredients to make my own version of some of my favourite meals, like the Chicken Madras, from scratch, in the air fryer. I’ll still keep a bag of Slimming World Chips in the freezer for those days when I need something quick to throw in with my dinner.

“To this day, one of the things I love most about Food Optimising is that I never feel restricted, and that I can enjoy tasty, real food that I actually want to eat – like a lasagne or chicken curry. So many weight loss methods focus on limiting what you eat or suppressing your appetite, but I know that wouldn’t have worked for me at all. With Slimming World, I’ve learned how to consume fewer calories in a way that doesn’t make me feel deprived – quite the opposite in fact, I’d say I enjoy food more nowadays.

“Looking back, I realise I used food as a source of comfort, and lived on takeaways and junk food. I used to spend a minimum of £140 a week on takeaways, when I stopped getting them the takeaway owner actually contacted me to check I was okay. Now, I have a better relationship with food and make sure I’m filling myself with healthier, more nutritious food.”

With the help of Slimming World’s physical activity support programme, Kenny was able to steadily incorporate more activity into his day. He says: “At the start, I couldn’t even entertain the idea of any exercise. As time went on though, I noticed I had more energy and began walking. Each week I’d walk for a little longer, and now I can easily walk five miles a day. I recently started running too, and I’m working my way up to a 5k.”

Since joining Slimming World, Kenny’s life has transformed and he’s excited about making new memories. He says: “My health has improved dramatically. I’m able to move now without being in crippling pain, and I’m no longer dependent on other people to help me get by. I also don’t have to think twice about simple tasks that once felt impossible – like doing my food shopping or tying my shoelaces. I used to fear going out in public before, now one of my favourite things to do is treating myself to a nice coffee from my local coffee shop – being able to fit in the chairs comfortably is the best feeling too.”

Kenny continues: “I wanted to be the best dad I could be for my children, and now I can be the version they deserve. I've finally found that silver lining that people talked about – this is just the beginning for me.”

You can view a video of Kenny’s story here.

VITAL STATS
Name: Kenny Higgins 
Age: 48
Height: 5ft 5ins/165.1cm
Starting weight: 34st 7lbs/219.1kg/483lbs      
Current weight: 12st 7lbs/79.4kg/175lbs
Weight loss: 22st/139.7kg/308lbs
Waist size before: 70in/177.8cm
Waist size now: 38in/96.5cm
Joined current Slimming World group: April 2023

Group: Kenny attends the Blackpool Slimming World group, which is ran by Consultant Natalie Meadows

Before menu
Breakfast: Bacon and sausages on two white bread rolls
Lunch: A takeaway or snacks like chocolate and cake  
Dinner: Chinese takeaway or two large pizzas from the local takeaway
Snacks: Chocolates, energy drinks, lemon meringue pie

After menu
Breakfast: Fresh fruit like, apple and mixed berries, with fat-free Greek yogurt
Lunch: Jacket potato with beans & cheese or chilli
Dinner: Homemade chicken curry or Slimming World Lasagne from the Slimming World food range with veg
Snacks: Slimming World Triple Choc Hi-fi bars, fat-free crème fraiche with raspberries and mini meringues  

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