Veronica Bala, 15, has been bravely exercising her way to a healthy weight.
Three months ago, she was referred to specialists at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) for a weight management programme.
Experts there gave the teenager, who is 1.65m tall and weighed 74kg, advice on how to control her diet and the sort of exercise she should do.
Veronica is a special case because she was born with nerve damage that left her right arm paralysed.
Overweight even as a young child, this prevented her from taking up a lot of sports.
"I couldn't do things like swimming or cycling. Even if I wanted to exercise, I couldn't do it that intensely," she said.
Now, she attends fitness sessions once a week at KKH, where she has learnt to use various gym machines and takes part in group workouts.
"I like having partners to exercise with. Meeting other people who have lost weight has also been inspiring," she said.
At home, she also works out twice a week using the exercise machines around her estate and going for jogs or climbing the 13 flights of stairs to her flat.
Her family is supporting her by preparing lighter meals, cutting down on fried foods and eating more fruit and vegetables.
She still eats her favourite foods - doughnuts and chocolates - but only once a week and in small portions. She has since lost 6kg and now weighs 68kg. Her target is to hit 60kg.
Said the teen, who wants to become a teacher: "Exercising definitely makes me feel better. It feels like the right way to slim down."
This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times, on January 8, 2009.
