Duchess of York tells of weight problems and depression

The Duchess of York will tell tonight how her weight problems led to depression.

In her British TV debut as a reporter, Sarah - once dubbed the Duchess of Pork by the press - says on ITV current affairs programme, Tonight With Trevor McDonald: ‘‘I’ve had first-hand knowledge of what it is like to be overweight and have the media spotlight on me.

‘‘I think I understand the depression and despair that people face when they are trying to lose weight.

‘‘But what is frightening is that here in Britain we are following hard on the heels of America and fast becoming the fattest country in Europe.

‘‘I have never been clinically obese but I can imagine that I may well have been if I had not taken control of my eating when I did.

‘‘Being overweight left me feeling very depressed and the more depressed I became the more I wanted to eat.

‘‘What I realise now is that in order to lose weight permanently you have to change your whole lifestyle and that’s not easy.’’

In the 20-minute investigation she meets sufferers of clinical obesity and looks at the strain treating weight-related illnesses is placing on the National Health Service.

Ahead of the programme, the Duchess was presenting awards at a gala dinner in London’s West End in aid of her charity Children in Crisis.

The former wife of the Duke of York combines charity fund-raising with money-making, mainly in the United States, representing WeightWatchers and others.