At 6ft 1in tall and weighing about 27 and a half stone, Matthew Thory was the first man to successfully have a gastric band fitted at the Fitzwilliam Hospital, in Bretton, in September last year – after fears his 18-month-old son would grow up without a dad.

And after just six months of following a strict diet, Mr Thory is five stone lighter and halfway to reaching his target weight of 18 stone.

After seeing first-hand how the £8,000 operation has successfully helped to shift some of the excess weight that not only threatens Mr Thory's life but stops him getting the most out of being a parent, the 36-year-old's wife, Melyni, decided to follow suit.

Mrs Thory (36) went under the knife in November and has already reduced her weight by more than three stone.

However, the 36-year-old of Main Street, Glapthorn, near Oundle, doesn't expect to continue her steady weightloss after discovering she was pregnant with her second child just weeks after the operation.

She said: "The operation went really well and I am already three-and-a-half stone lighter. From a medical perspective, becoming pregnant wasn't the best thing to happen, but we are delighted. It just means that I won't lose as much weight as fast."

After following a strict diet of eating just liquids for the first month and pureed foods in the second, the couple are now eating smaller amounts of solid foods.

Mr Thory said: "Its onwards and upwards, the operation has been a great success for us both. But there is still a long way to go.

"We are losing on average of one to two pounds a week, which can be a bit tedious at times, but we have to remember that the operation was never going to be a miracle cure or an instant fix but a tool to assist us in losing weight.

"The weightloss has been consistent and we are both progressing at a steady pace which is important."

Although they are able to eat normal foods, they have to ensure they get a consistent mix of nutrients and keep an eye on their portion sizes.

Mr Thory added: "I never had a poor diet, but I did like a lot of food on my plate – so it is about getting used to eating smaller portions. We also eat slower, but this helps us to enjoy our food more.

"It is nice to be able to share the experience with my wife, we are able to encourage one another as we both know what each other is going through."

The couple are looking forward to leading a more active lifestyle with their son, Jack, who has just started walking.