Transforming Adam’s health and independence

When FitzRoy began supporting Adam in May 2023, his constant hunger raised some flags. The team looked into Adam’s medical history and found out that he had been diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome as a toddler, a condition often associated with being constantly hungry. Knowing this, the team began supporting Adam to adopt a more active lifestyle and make healthier dietary choices, resulting in a weight loss of nearly 25kg so far!

Courtney, the service manager of our Derby supported living home said: “We talked with Adam about the foods he likes and found healthier ways to cook them, so he wouldn’t feel deprived of the foods he enjoys. Together, we create a weekly meal plan that has helped him stick to a more balanced diet. Now when we go out to eat, Adam often picks healthier options. And when we go to the pub, he’ll still get his favorite, gammon and chips, but now he always adds two portions of vegetables.

“Adam also has lymphedema, which makes walking uncomfortable for him, so instead of simply encouraging him to walk, we looked for other ways for him to be more active doing things that he enjoys. Adam loves seeing buses and planes, so we found places like transport museums and airports where he can enjoy these things while being more active.

“Since Adam started losing weight, his overall wellbeing has improved so much. He can now walk comfortably for much longer. We recently managed a 45 minute walk when previously he would want to turn back after just two minutes. He looks so much healthier, and there’s been a noticeable improvement in his legs too.

This weight loss has also given him new independence. He used to have to buy his clothes online from stores that stocked larger sizes, he can now buy his clothes on the high street and choose them for himself, knowing they’ll fit Last week he proudly showed off his new clothes to the staff, even pointing out the labels showing the size.

“These small, gradual steps have made a world of difference for Adam. Our goal is for Adam to have lost 30kg by Christmas, and he’s almost there at 25kg already! We’re all incredibly proud of him and it’s wonderful to see how much his quality of life is improving.”