Starring in her first Carry On film in 1958, Hattie Jacques would appear in 14 more. But during her stardom, she reportedly had a difficult relationship with her weight. At one point, Hattie is said to have tipped the scales at 20 stone, and in 1977, her health became problematic as it was reported she suffered from arthritis and ulcerated legs.
Arthritis, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, is more likely to affect people who are overweight.
Excess weight “puts more stress” on weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees.
Obesity is also a risk factor for ulcers. The NHS says: “A leg ulcer is a long-lasting (chronic) sore that takes more than four to six weeks to heal.
“They usually develop on the inside of the leg, just above the ankle.”
Symptoms of a leg ulcer can include:
- Swollen ankles
- Discolouration and darkening of the skin around the ulcer
- Hardened skin around the ulcer
- A heavy feeling in the legs
- Red, scaly, and itchy skin on the legs
- Swollen and enlarged veins on the legs
- An unpleasant and foul-smelling discharge from the ulcer.
Ulcers can become infected too, which can lead to:
- Worsening pain
- A green or unpleasant discharge coming from the ulcer
- Redness and swelling of the skin around the ulcer
- A high temperature (fever).
Hattie also faced a couple of cancer scares, according to the Sunday Post, who added that she had non-malignant tumours removed from her kidneys.
As for Hattie’s heart, while married to John Le Mesurier (the Dad’s Army star), her feelings grew elsewhere.
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Falling in love with Cockney car dealer John Schofield, Hattie moved him into the family home, where Le Mis moved into the spare bedroom.
A few years after Le Mis and Hattie had publicly separated, Schofield left the Carry On actress for another woman.
Truly crushed, Hattie then developed heart problems and died of a heart attack on October 6, 1980.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) stated: “Living with excess weight or obesity can increase your risk of heart and circulatory diseases like heart attacks.”
Many factors can contribute to obesity, such as:
- Portion sizes
- Medical conditions and medications
- Our genes
- Stress and lack of sleep
- Junk food advertising
- Food labelling
- The fat and sugar content of every day foods.
The calorie content of food and drink served in restaurants and cafes.
People consume calories by the foods and drinks they consume, which they can burn off by being active.
“When you eat and drink more calories than you use up, your body keeps the excess calories as body fat,” the BHF explains.
Excess weight can lead to a build-up of fatty material in the arteries, thereby restricting blood flow.
When blood flow is restricted to the heart, its muscle cells begin to die, which is what happens during a heart attack.
“If this happens in the arteries that carry blood to your brain it can lead to a stroke or vascular dementia,” the BHF adds.
Hattie Jacques starred in Carry On Cabby, which is showcasing on Wednesday, April 12 on Film4 at 4.40pm.
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