WHEN dieting failed Matthew Astley took what some may view to be drastic action.

However, undergoing weight loss treatment wasn't a decision he took lightly. It was something he had contemplated for almost five years - now after shedding 11 stones and looking at his slimmer self he knows it is the best decision he could ever have made.

The 24-year-old from Bingley opted for the gastric sleeve procedure 'after trying everything else.'

"I realised it was for me when I saw a glimpse of myself in the mirror at my biggest after trying everything else," he says.

"I genuinely burst into tears."

At his heaviest, Matthew weighed 28 and a half stone. His trousers were 56 inch waist. His weakness was bread and pasta - but Matthew was becoming more and more conscious that if he didn't do something about his weight he may shorten his life.

He had previously tried dieting but explains how he would lose a few stones only to put it back on again.

Matthew recalls his consultant at Ramsay Healthcare, where the procedure was carried out at the Yorkshire Clinic in Cottingley, telling him a bypass was too drastic and the band wouldn’t be sufficient.

"So from there, I chose this option," says Matthew.

The procedure involves removing approximately 75 per cent of the stomach resulting in a newer, smaller stomach about the size of a banana.

Patients apparently feel fuller for longer and it reduces hunger.

Matthew recalls he was 23 when he underwent the operation and tells how considering his age, and the long term implications his weight could have on his future health, he knew it was the right thing to do despite knowing the risks.

"At the time I had surgery the day after was my 24th birthday but at the time, especially at 23 years old, you are nearly 29 stone at that age and at risk of heart disease and/fatal circumstances, it is a massive eye opener and that is the entire reason I went for it," says Matthew.

Following the operation he spent around six weeks recovering. He has also had to get used to a totally different diet. He doesn't eat bread or pasta but does have the odd chocolate treat now and again.

"I eat completely different to what I used to do. I've cut out bread and pasta - I treat myself to chocolate once a week."

Since the surgery, Matthew has slimmed down to just over 11 stone but he is keen to lose another three and a half stone.

As well as overhauling his diet, Matthew is also undergoing an exercise regime and he says it has already transformed his life; improved his job prospects and enabled him to pursue sport - something he wasn't able to do before.

"My exercise was almost non-existent before the surgery, but now I'm able to partake in sport and walking."

"My work life has increased, it's made it a lot easier to find work," he says.

Football was a particular passion as it was a sport he played as a young boy - now he says his ultimate aim is to get into a Sunday league 11-a-side.

"My lifestyle has changed drastically and I am now able to partake in football training, which was my ultimate aim," says Matthew, who also enjoys walking.

Before undergoing the procedure Matthew recalls feeling lethargic. "I had no energy and was constantly short of breath."

His advice to others who may be contemplating undergoing weight loss treatment is to do it. "My advice is that if you're really serious about losing the weight and you've tried almost everything you can, then go for it.

"It's changed my life for the better. I'm 100 per cent positive it'll do the same for you."

"I'm not back on the football pitch yet, but I'm able to participate in training. Thanks to Ramsay and the gastric sleeve, I have achieved my goal."

Mr James Halstead. Consultant Bariatric Surgeon, explains: “The sleeve gastrectomy is the fastest growing weight loss procedure worldwide. There are over 10,000 performed annually in the U.K. It is a procedure with a proven track record in producing weight loss and correcting associated medical issues. The potential demand in the UK is in the millions. It should always be delivered by an experienced team - the timing of surgery should be in accord with both the patient's and their team's wishes, it isn't necessarily a last resort.”