Steven Carter is the 'fat controller'. But how does Hartlepool Borough Council's new weight management co-ordinator keep in shape himself?



"I LIKE to lead by example" says the man in charge of the town's fight-the-flab battle.

Steven Carter is a fine figure for wannabe fat fighters to follow.

He exercises three times a day, five times a week.
The South Shields man uses Springs clubs in Hartlepool and his hometown for his regular workouts.

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He also does boxercise, plays football once a week and eats healthily – most of the time.

The 25-year-old said: "I'm quite picky about being healthy and try to follow the Eat Well guide. I eat lots of carbohydrates to keep energy levels up, but I do eat unhealthy food sometimes."

Steven says his favourite treat is chicken madras from one of the many Indian restaurants in South Shields' Ocean Road.
"It's a local delicacy like the Teesside parmo," he said.
But he adds that he only allows himself the spicy treat once a month.

Steven said: "I can enjoy things in moderation. Now and again I get a bit of stick from my friends, but they understand I do try and set a good example and eat healthy most of the time."

It's a month since Steven started the job of weight management co-ordinator.

He's already fallen in love with the title the Mail give him when his appointment was first announced.

The tag of fat controller has made more people aware of what he is trying to achieve, he said.

"It's used in quite a tongue in cheek way and worked to my advantage. Lots more people are aware of the role and I find it quite funny.

"People have been very supportive of my role. I'm really keen to get involved. People have poked fun at it but it raises awareness of the issue."

Steven co-ordinates a team of around 40 people. They assess everything from dietary advice to exercise and lifestyle.

He said: "Quite a lot of people are delivering sessions across Hartlepool, some are trained to the relevant standard, which is Level 3 while a lot of people are just doing things freelance and are private groups like Weight Watchers and Slimming World.

"I'm trying to find out where the groups are and which groups need more support and am hoping to set up classes with different groups."

The last health survey for Tees Valley showed that of 288,000 County Durham and Tees Valley residents quizzed, 27.3 per cent are overweight.

"That's over a quarter having a problem with their weight and we're hoping to identify the extent of the problem and find out how to address it," said Steven.

In Hartlepool, people are 15 per cent more at risk of being overweight than the national average.

Steven said his job is initially funded by the Communities for Health, and extra cash from the Department of Health could extend his role.

"I'll work my hardest to try to ensure that should the role come to an end there will be some new procedures in place to ensure local people can pick up the task and keep on providing accessible services established suitable for everybody in Hartlepool," he added.

Steven is hoping to set up some weight management groups in the Throston and Headland areas.

But the emphasis is on getting into shape the fun way.
"We are trying to make healthy living easy, fun and accessible. The main thing is that people enjoy themselves and don't find it a chore, they can also get out of the house and have a chat, exercise and share experiences."

Steven graduated with a health development masters degree from Sunderland University in 2004 before taking up his previous job as a community health development worker with Hartlepool PCT, where he was based in the Owton Manor and Rossmere areas.

Stepping into his latest role didn't faze him, said Steven, despite being the first person to take on the job. There are no predecessors to learn from.

But he added: "I'm pretty confident all the work's being done in Hartlepool now. Everybody – big organisations and little local community groups – is working towards the same agenda.
"Everyone I've spoken to so far is really keen to get involved with some training, we are definitely on course."
Steven loves his job.

He says: "Every day is completely different. I get to work with a range of individuals and it's nice to work as part of a team.

"I enjoy working hard and working in Hartlepool, people are really friendly and the community sector has a really strong interest in improving the community, they are so well-motivated. I find I fit in quite well and I also like the area."