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Presenter Joanne Malin found out what it would feel like to be overweight for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ WM's Flab To Fab week of programming, beginning on Monday 6 July, which looks at obesity in the region and its effects on people's lives, fitness and health.

Joanne was made-up in a specially designed fat-suit which gave the impression of her being obese. Her face was also made over to appear overweight by a team of make-up specialists.

The aim of the radical makeover was to discover if people reacted differently to Joanne and to experience how weight-gain affects a person's ability to perform everyday functions.

Joanne says of her time in the fat-suit: "Obviously people don't go from a size 12 to a size 18 overnight but my sudden transformation showed me what my life would be like if I continue to put on weight.

"I was shocked how difficult every day tasks became.

"I tried some shoes on in a shop and couldn't bend down to do the buckle up.

"I sat in my chair in my studio at ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ WM and found it no longer supported my back, as my bigger bottom meant I had to sit in the middle of the chair and then my larger stomach stopped me reaching the computer keyboard."

Joanne adds: "My lack of mobility coupled with summer temperatures made everything more difficult.

"It's definitely made me more determined than ever to keep going to my diet club and lose those few pounds before they become stones."

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ WM has decided to dedicate the week of programming to coincide with the opening, this summer, of a new research unit at Heartlands Hospital where for the first time specialists working on many weight-related illnesses will share their expertise and work together to tackle what is the country's biggest health problem.

According to research conducted at Heartlands, more men in the West Midlands are obese than in any other region of the country.

According to that same research there are primary schools in Birmingham where more than a quarter of year-six pupils are already obese.

During Flab To Fab week ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ WM will attempt to inform and educate listeners about the risks of being overweight and encourage them to be part of the initiative to improve health and get fitter.

Be Part of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ WM's Flab To Fab week and tune into 95.6 FM from Monday 6 July when Joanne Malin and the rest of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ WM team will be discussing weighty matters and exploring the many ways in which we can all fight the fat.

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