Dr Julius Parker: Stretched skin and febrile seizures

Qam a man in my mid 30s. As a child I was obese right up until I was 24 when I weighed 18.5 stone. I embarked on a diet with the help of my GP and dropped to 12.5 stone. I have maintained that weight loss, however I am still suffering as I have loose skin on my belly and chest, effectively meaning I have man boobs and a belly that hangs down about six inches from my body. This is really difficult to live with. Is there anything I can do? I don’t want to go down the surgery route.

A You’ve obviously done really well to lose this weight. One of the common consequences of significant weight loss is the presence of excess folds of skin. This can be centrally over the stomach, or can extend around the sides of the abdomen. Excess skin can also cause problems with “man boobs” and can also be noticeable on the thighs and under the upper arms.

The difficulty you describe is usually not so much due to excess fat, but because the skin itself was permanently stretched when you were heavier. It is now lax and unsupported. Many people do feel self-conscious about their appearance although you should be very positive about how much you have achieved.