TAKING charge of your health — and particularly your weight — is something I’ve always felt very strongly about probably because I’ve not always done it.

Using gastric band surgery as a solution for those unwilling to take practical action about their weight themselves always seemed wrong, and refusing obese patients some surgery as a result about right.

But a group of inspiring women who’ve taken charge of their health, forced me to back down on some trenchant views and consider, literally, the bigger picture.

They are involved in a remarkable scheme at the USN Bolton Arena called Inspire2Action, set up almost three years ago by Sue Hayes there with the help of Bolton Metro’s Get Active team and funding from Sport England.

The idea was to provide one-to-one help for those without an active lifestyle, the very overweight and for cancer sufferers who faced challenges in getting back to health.

Since then, the scheme has helped people not only to a better level of fitness but, in some cases, to embracing exercise as part of their lives as around 80 per cent of them continue in activities.

I met three of them — Lesley and Hazel who both had breast cancer, and Anne who had suffered mental health and weight problems.

Lesley and Hazel joined the scheme a year ago, have lost weight and gained a real level of fitness. More importantly, they love all the bespoke classes like Zumba, Pilates, yoga, Tai Chi, spinning and in particular touch tennis.

Anne joined eight months ago, when she couldn’t leave the house and her weight had rocketed. Lesley and Hazel were among others who encouraged Anne and fellow members to enjoy the scheme, and plainly there is much support on offer here.

All three had suffered weight problems and explained how difficult it was, not only to shed weight when you had a lot to lose but also simply where to start.

Anne explained how people jeered at her in the street and called her names — “Did they really think I wanted to look like that?” she asked me.

Health experts referred her to the scheme and it is to her great credit and determination that she is losing weight and loving fitness.

Perhaps the lessons here for the overweight are all about finding the right help. And for the rest of us, about learning some tolerance and understanding.