An inspirational woman has been nominated for a special accolade after losing nearly four stone.

Frances Bath, a member of the Slimming World group in Inverkeithing, was nominated for the Woman of the Year 2024 award due to her significant weight loss, the support she gives during group sessions, and her unwavering commitment.

Ms Bath, who recognises she had been overweight for most of her life, said she always craved sweets and convenience food, despite being brought up in a health-conscious family.

She recalled: "My dad was always a bit on the rounder side, and I always assumed I took after him."

However, the experience of deprivation and hunger tainted her previous dieting efforts until she found Slimming World 18 years ago.

The programme helped her lose more than a stone and a half before her daughter was born.

Ms Bath loved that satisfying your hunger was at the very core of the new eating habits promoted by Slimming World.

Her commitment to Slimming World was reignited when her good friend, Audrey McIvor, took over the Inverkeithing group.

She had been enjoying parenthood and telling herself she was fairly content with her health and weight.

However, when she stepped on the scales, her denial was blatant to herself.

Upon realising she was classified as obese, she decided to fully commit to the programme and get the support she needed from Ms McIvor and Slimming World.

She set a dream weight target and is now only 3lbs away from achieving it.

Ms Bath has lost 3st 12lbs, and she is confident her health has benefited greatly from this.

She said: "I feel so much better and ready for life.

"I know that keeping my weight under control will ensure I have the best opportunity to reduce the risk of future health problems, and that is really important to me now."

Her journey has also led to a newfound love for physical activities.

This year, she completed the Race for Life 10k, and now enjoys walking and attending a weekly Callanetics class.

She is grateful for the support she has received from her group and feels honoured to be nominated for the Woman of the Year award.

She said: "The group I attend have given me so much support, and to receive this award recognising not only my weight loss achievement but the support that I bring to the group, is very humbling, while being an amazing feeling."

Ms Bath now looks forward to the future with Slimming World and her friends in the group.

She is committed to continuing to support others on their own weight loss journeys.