Mum-of-three with phobia of sitting on chairs after breaking sofa in two sheds 10 stone after surgery

A woman, who developed a phobia of breaking chairs after snapping her own sofa in two 13 years ago, has shed 10 stone in one year following drastic surgery. Caroline Archer, 39, was left terrified sitting on chairs and would refuse to eat out in restaurants in case she would buckle the seat.

Weighing 24st then, the customer service worker from West Lothian, Scotland was even forced to buy a special bariatric chair costing £500 for her office in Livingston, Edinburgh. She also became “borderline reclusive” as she would avoid socialising including going to cafes, concerts, cinemas, and flying on aeroplanes.