Furious 17-stone woman told ‘she’s too heavy to get life insurance’
Amy Sample, 24, from Newcastle is 17st 4lb and 5ft 2in with a thyroid condition — giving her a Body Mass Index of 44.5, which is classed as obese
ANGRY Amy Sample claims she is a victim of discrimination after she was refused life insurance for being too fat.
Amy, 24, has battled medical conditions which have affected her weight, including an underactive thyroid.
She is now 17st 4lb and 5ft 2in — giving her a Body Mass Index of 44.5, which is classed as obese.
Amy says she hardly drinks, eats healthily and will lose weight in the future when her medical issues are under control.
Despite explaining her medical history she was rejected for life insurance by Aviva, Virgin Money and Direct Line because of her BMI.
Amy, an office worker from Newcastle, said: “It is a form of discrimination because they are rejecting me out of hand for one reason and one reason only –my weight.
“I understand my weight is an issue but shouldn’t it be the case that it affects my premiums rather than be an outright refusal?
“After all, it’s not as if I’m one of those people you see on television documentaries who weigh 40st and can’t get out of bed.”
Amy, of Newcastle, said she was tall and skinny as a child but her weight suddenly rocketed when she was 13.
She said: “I was going to the gym, running miles and eating salads but my weight kept going up.
“My mum took me to the doctor and they diagnosed an underactive thyroid.
“I went on medication and my dress size dropped from 18 to 10.
“I was fine for a few years but around 16 I fell into a bad relationship and things started going wrong so I began comfort eating to cope. That resulted in my weight going up again.
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Amy said much of her current weight is due to taking steroids for a blood condition.
She added: “My weight won’t be what it is now for ever.”
Aviva, Virgin and Direct Line all said application are judged on a “range of factors”.