The health minister who has described herself as obese is winning her own battle of the bulge.

Minister for Health Promotion, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, joked yesterday that she is looking forward to just being overweight.

Expand Close Kathryn Thomas. Picture Andres Poveda / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Kathryn Thomas. Picture Andres Poveda

It will mean her healthy lifestyle, since taking up the post, will take her out of the obese zone.

She told the Irish Independent yesterday that she is adopting a basic regime of smaller meal portions and daily exercise - the same recipe for weight loss promoted by the TV programme 'Operation Transformation' fronted by Kathryn Thomas.

"I have so far lost 14lb," said Ms Corcoran Kennedy.

She said she had another 14lb to go but is taking it at a regular pace.

A key part of her strategy is to work exercise into her day and make the most of opportunities to be active.

Before the summer recess Ms Corcoran Kennedy said: "I eat healthily with a lot of fruit and vegetables but my weakness is that I am not taking enough exercise.

"It is something I need to consciously work on. I have to make it part of my day.

"I let regular exercise slip and I have to get my act together. I love to swim but that has gone by the wayside."

Health Minister Simon Harris, who is slim, said he is conscious of exercising and carries a pedometer to measure daily steps. He is often surprised at the end of a busy day how little he has walked.

Irish Independent