The 42-year-old, who only wore baggy clothes, even had to use the internet to buy a pair of 74-inch waist trousers for a family wedding.

But the dad-of-two now has a new lease of life – after losing a massive 16 stone in 10 months following gastric bypass surgery.

"I was so heavy that a lot of scales couldn't read my weight," said Paul, who lives in Chapel Allerton, Leeds. "The screen just said "error".

"I felt awful about being so big. I wouldn't go out with my children, I avoided social situations and I wouldn't go to parents evenings.
"I was ashamed and I didn't want to embarrass my kids."

Paul, a senior manager for Park Lane Properties, first saw his weight balloon after he suffered serious leg injuries in a car accident in 1993, meaning that he had to stop his regular gym and kick boxing sessions.

The former hockey player turned to food for comfort and the weight piled on – at his heaviest, Paul was feasting on around 7,000 calories a day, including fry-ups, fast food and curries.

Although he tried to exercise and joined a gym, the pounds refused to shift and Paul became a virtual recluse, even refusing to go to the shops with his children Nimhryt, 15, and Amardeep, 12.

"I've never been a shrinking violet but I was really ashamed of being so big," he said.

"It was a really low point in my life and the weight just wouldn't budge. I didn't know what to do."

Paul, who weighed 50 stone at his heaviest, eventually told his wife Bhupinder that he wanted to make a change – and booked an appointment with a gastric bypass surgeon at Spire Leeds Hospital in Roundhay.

He underwent the gruelling operation in September last year and has since lost 16 stone, although he ultimately hopes to lose around 30.

He now takes his children swimming and boxing – and said the operation had made them feel like a "proper family".

"It's the best decision I ever made," he said. "It cost £16,000 but it's only money. Your health is more important.

"The operation really has changed my life. I've still got a lot of weight to lose but I've got my confidence back and I'm happy again."

Spire Leeds Hospital is holding a free weight-loss surgery information event tomorrow at 6.30pm. To book a place, call 0113 218 5967 or 0113 218 5977 or email suzanne.wynne-jones@spirehealthcare.com.