SHOW NOTES
"If you keep going the way you are, you might not make 40."
I heard that in a doctor's office and it hit me like a brick. Obesity is officially recognised in the UK as a chronic health condition, and the House of Commons Library puts around twenty-eight per cent of adults in England in that group. It is shaped by genetics, environment, mental health and social pressures, not simply by eating too much or moving too little. That is not what you hear when you are living it. You hear judgment, and that is why so many people say nothing. The danger is the silence.
No guest this time. This is the first episode of This Is My Journey, and the story is my own. For years I carried shame, judgment and a lack of self-belief alongside the extra pounds, tried every diet I can think of, lost some, gained it back, sometimes more, and got worn out by it. I am 126lbs, fifty-seven kilograms, down so far, and the number matters less than the confidence, the reconnection with fitness and starting to reclaim who I really am.
I talk about the appointment that was a wake-up call, not a scare I could file away, why that chronic condition label changes the conversation, the statement a Novo Nordisk spokesperson gave me, calling obesity a complex disease needing long-term management and committing to tackle the judgment that stops people asking for help, and what this show will be: healthcare professionals, fitness experts and familiar faces who know the road, the fear of failing again, the guilt, the effect on families, the joy of feeling yourself again, and no quick fixes. Whether you are starting out, deep in it or finding your footing after a big change, this is for you. Real stories of transformation, resilience and growth, every Tuesday at 6am UK time.
SOURCES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
House of Commons Library. "Obesity statistics." Briefing published February 2025. Around 28% of adults in England living with obesity.
Statement provided to the podcast by a Novo Nordisk spokesperson.
ABOUT THE GUEST
Marc McKee is the host of This Is My Journey. After years of trying every diet, losing some and gaining it back, he was told by a doctor that he might not make 40. He has lost 126lbs, fifty-seven kilograms, so far, and shares his own story of shame, judgment and reclaiming his confidence.
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FULL TRANSCRIPT
Welcome everyone and before we get into the very first episode of This Is My Journey, I want to be completely honest. So, not too long ago, I sat in a doctor's office and heard the words, If you keep going the way you are, you might not make 40. And to be honest, that moment hit me like a brick. It was honestly terrifying. And yeah, sadly, I know I'm not alone in this. So according to the House of Commons Library from February 2025 this year, around 28% of adults in England live with obesity. And another 36% are overweight. And in Scotland, it's 32%. In Wales, about one in four adults. And in Northern Ireland, nearly 28%. And it starts young. Almost 1 in 10 children in reception and over 1 in 5 in year 6 are already living with obesity. On that world stage though, the UK now ranks 10th highest globally, which is crazy. Higher rates than countries like France or Japan, though still behind the US where around 43% of adults live with obesity. For us, these aren't just numbers. They're our lives, they're other people's lives, they're families, there are people who have been told the same thing I was told and that's why I wanted to start this podcast, to change the conversation.
Welcome to This Is My Journey, the podcast where real people share real stories of transformation, resilience, and growth. I'm Marc and after navigating my own path through major lifestyle change, I created this space to open up honest conversations around identity, mindset, and what it really takes to evolve. Along the way, we'll also hear from professionals, from pharmacists to psychologists and fitness experts who help us make sense of the science and support behind these journeys. So whether you're just starting out, deep in the process, or you're finding your footing after big change, you are not alone. This is your place. This is my journey. Let's walk it together.
So let's start at the beginning. For years, I carried more than just extra weight. I carried shame, judgment and a lack of self-belief. I tried every diet you can think of. I'd lose some weight, then gain it all back, sometimes even more. It was pretty much a cycle that I felt was really never ending. And I was exhausted. When my doctor sat me down and told me I might not see 40 if I didn't make a serious change, that was my wake-up call. Since then, I have been on a journey. Some of you know it, some of you might not. That journey has seen me lose 126lbs, 57 kilograms, so far. But more importantly, it has helped me build confidence, reconnect with fitness and start to reclaim who I really am. And that is the truth about transformation. It's not just about changing your body. It's about changing your life.
For me, my story is personal, but it's also part of a much bigger picture. We live in a country in the UK where obesity is officially recognised as a chronic health condition. It's not just about eating too much or not exercising enough. It's shaped by things like genetics, the environment, mental health, and even social pressures. And yet, despite the numbers I shared earlier, so many people are still judged for struggling with it. The stigma is real. The stigma can stop people from reaching out, from getting help, from even talking about what they're going through. That silence can be dangerous.
So I reached out to one of the organisations working in this space, Novo Nordisk, and they shared something really powerful with me. A spokesperson for them has said: Obesity is a complex disease that requires long-term management and is influenced by a number of different factors, including physiological, psychological, environmental, socioeconomic and genetic factors. Novo Nordisk is dedicated to preventing chronic diseases. By playing a role to help address these conditions and provide support to those who need it, we can improve the lives of people in the UK as well as helping to alleviate pressure on the healthcare system. We are also committed to addressing the stigma and judgment associated with weight, which often stops people from getting help. We take our responsibility to meet the needs of people living with chronic conditions very seriously.
And really, that's it right there. It's about support, understanding and compassion. Not shame, not judgment. That's why I've created This Is My Journey. This is going to be a space for real stories, real struggles and real growth. Over the next few weeks I'll be joined by some incredible guests, from healthcare professionals who can share trusted guidance to fitness experts who will show us how to move in ways that feel good, and even familiar faces who know what it's like to walk this road. We're going to talk about the things that don't always get said out loud. The fear of failing again, the guilt we carry, the impact on our families and the joy that comes when you finally start to feel yourself again.
This podcast isn't about quick fixes. It's about changing the conversation, removing that stigma and showing that no matter who you are, what you look like or where you've come from, you're not alone on this journey. Thank you so much for joining me for this first episode. A brand new conversation will land every Tuesday morning at 6am UK time, wherever you get your podcasts. This is my journey, but it's also yours. And together, we're going to change the way we talk about health, identity, and transformation.