Nathan Lewis is 12-years-old and weighs 13 stones. He loves junk food and hates exercise but he's spending his summer holiday at a pioneering weight loss camp designed to change his eating habits as well as his waistline.
HER eyes filled with tears and Margaret Lewis couldn't hide the swell of emotion as her son ran past her on the school sports field.
Click on the green play button to hear the interview with Nathan's mumNathan Lewis hasn't exercised in his life and two weeks ago, when his mum Margaret visited summer camp, it was the first time she'd seen him run.
"It was incredible," recalls Margaret, still beaming with pride.
"I've never seen him exercise, let alone run. I couldn't believe it was my son."
Nathan is the youngest of five children and suffers from learning difficulties and behaviour problems. He attends a special school in Thurcroft, Rotherham, which does its best to motivate him.
His weight problem began when he couldn't cope in mainstream school and his self confidence ebbed away.
"He was about six when he withdrew into himself," explains Margaret, a single mum from Swallownest, Rotherham.
"He couldn't keep up in class and he couldn't handle it. He was getting bullied and he just stopped going out.
"Nathan won't play football with other kids in the street. He won't do any exercise."
Nathan sought comfort in food, started eating alone and hardly stirred from the sofa.
"He'd eat his meals in the porch on his own," explains Margaret, as she shakes her head.
"The way he ate was worrying and I know there's a lot of issues to sort out, not just with food.
"He used to comfort eat and he loves pizza, burgers, sweets, crisps and Coke.
"He's not been a big fan of vegetables but that's all changing now."
Nathan was selected for the Carnegie Weight Management programme after the school nurse raised concern.
He was nominated for the Leeds Metropolitan University programme which is based at a school on the outskirts of north Leeds.
The eight week camp for kids aged 11-17 combines healthy eating and exercise with making new friends, increasing confidence and gaining lifeskills.
His £3,675 place has been paid for by Rotherham Primary Care Trust.
"At first he didn't want to go," adds Margaret, who also found it difficult to wave goodbye to the baby of the family.
"He's my youngest and it was hard to let him go but I knew it was for his own good.
"That first week when I called him he sobbed his little heart out."
But after a few weeks at the camp, Margaret can't believe the transformation in her loving son.
"When I went to visit him he was running about, he'd been playing games and he's starting to love exercising.
"Even after a couple of weeks you can see the difference.
"He's looking so much happier and is smiling all the time.
"The main thing is he's learning about food and he's enjoying trying new things.
"It's doing him so much good – he's like a new person.
"I might just get a different son back."
The weight management programme isn't a diet and isn't a boot camp.
And it certainly isn't a fat camp, warns Margaret, who finds the term offensive.
"I think calling it a fat camp is negative.
He loves junk food and hates exercise but he's spending his summer holiday at a pioneering weight loss camp designed to change his eating habits as well as his waistline. Jane Cartledge spoke to Nathan and his mum Margaret
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