A MUM-OF-TWO who piled on the pounds blaming depression after the breakdown of her marriage found out she had actually gone through an early menopause.

Claire Hunter, aged 40, ballooned to a size 20 after bingeing on bread, crisps, chocolate, takeaways and oversized meals.

She started feeling constantly hungry about three years ago and suffered with erratic hot flushes, but she put the way she was feeling down to the breakdown of her marriage.

Hormone tests from her GP earlier this year revealed the shocking news that she had been through the change four years earlier.

Ms Hunter, of Harwood Vale, Harwood, said: “I couldn’t believe it when the doctor said I’d been through the menopause without realising it. They said that it probably started as early as when I was 36.

“The only things I could pin down as symptoms were the horrendous hot flushes that I used to suffer and the fact I ate anything and everything I could get my hands on.

“The flushes were so bad that I’d have to stand by the window, the heat was so overwhelming – but you never think it will be anything like that, do you?

“I just assumed that I was comfort eating. It was such a shock to find out. I feel lucky that I had two children already so I haven’t missed out on being a mother.”

Despite numerous attempts at losing weight, her mum Jean, aged 63, took her to Slimming World last year and she has since lost almost five stone – the weight of her 10-year-old son Finlay – and has recently started her own slimming group.

Ms Hunter, who has just finished a university degree in chemistry, said: “I probably used to get through about 4,000 calories a day.

"It wasn’t all bad food – just enormous portions. I never felt full. Even now I still have a big appetite. I tried lots of diets but nothing worked, because I always felt starved.”

“I have gone from 15st 1lb to 10st 5lbs and am now size 12. I feel like a different person.”

Ms Hunter’s class meets at the Holiday Inn in Higher Bridge Street every Saturday at 9am and 11am. Call 07729 771375 for more information.