THIS time last year Kevin Pickworth was, by his own admission, a nervous wreck.

At almost 20 stone and 5ft 10ins, Mr Pickworth, 53, was severely overweight and suffering crippling panic attacks because of it.

But now, thanks to a specialist NHS weight loss service, he is enjoying a new lease of life – and smaller trousers.

In 2010 the county’s primary care trust NHS Oxfordshire called in a team of experts, including psychologists and diet and exercise experts, to help overweight people as young as 16 battle their weight problems.

The trust paid half a million pounds for 600 of the county’s most dangerously overweight people to embark on the Oxfordshire Weightloss Lifestyle Service (OWLS) through a free referral from their GP.

Mr Pickworth, of Didcot, was among them.

Since joining the programme, which encourages people to rethink their attitudes to food, Mr Pickworth has lost three stone and no longer feels nervous about picking up the phone, talking to strangers or going out in public.

He said: “Three years ago I took very early retirement and soon began to pile on the weight.

“I suffered panic attacks and lost all my confidence.

“I would comfort eat, raiding the cupboards for anything really.

“My big weaknesses were things like McDonald’s, chips and fatty foods.”

OWLS takes place in Oxfordshire’s leisure centres and community halls with doctors, specialist nurses, dieticians and psychologists on hand for support.

It differs from other weightloss referral schemes such as Weight Watchers and Slimming World as it combines emotional and psychological support with exercise referrals and weekly weigh-ins and counselling sessions.

The programme was devised by the NHS in Berkshire, and a team from the county’s health trust helped to roll out the programme here.

Mr Pickworth said his wife Debbie, who is also 20 stone, was so impressed with his progress she has signed up with the service herself.

He said: “I feel wonderful.

“This year I even took part in the Oxford Half Marathon.

“I never thought I would have the confidence I have now.

“I feel like a new man.”