Lilly UK recruits ex-England cricketer as obesity champion
Khalil Asmar, VP of cardiometabolic health at Lilly UK & Ireland (l), and former England spin bowler Ashley Giles (r).
Like many high-level sports professionals, former England Test cricketer Ashley Giles saw his weight shoot up after he was forced to retire through injury.
A slow left-arm spin bowler who could also knock a few with the bat, Giles represented England in 54 Tests and was part of the team that won the Ashes in 2005, before stepping back from the game at the age of just 34 in 2007.
The combination of a chronic hip injury that affected his ability to exercise and a move into more sedentary roles in management resulted in a steady increase in weight that Giles struggled to reverse with diet and exercise.
He reached a peak weight of 127 kg before seeking medical help, and with help, is now back at roughly the same weight he was in his playing days.
That recognition that sometimes medical help is needed to help people control their weight, alongside dietary and physical changes, prompted him to reach out to Eli Lilly and ask for their help in discussing his own experiences.
Lilly has become a major player in the provision of medicines to help people lose weight with its injectable GLP-1 and GIP agonist Zepbound (tirzepatide) – sold as Mounjaro in some markets – and newly-launched oral GLP-1 agonist Foundayo (orforglipron).
Giles has now been named Lilly UK's first 'obesity champion', and will use his platform to raise awareness of obesity as a complex, long-term health condition and encourage people to seek appropriate support.
"Obesity affects millions of people in the UK. I know from first-hand experience that feelings of shame can stop people from reaching out for help," said Giles, who is now chief executive of Worcestershire County Cricket Club.
"Having been a professional sports person, it was a challenge for me to realise I needed help," he added. "I’m proud to work with Lilly to highlight that no-one should be shamed for their weight and no-one should struggle alone."
Giles was awarded an MBE in 2006 for services to cricket. Together with his wife Stine, in 2015, he launched the Giles’ Trust, which has raised over £1.3 million for brain tumour research.
Lilly said the appointment of a champion is part of a broader effort to support better care for people living with obesity and to call for evidence-based, patient-centred approaches.
"Many people feel blame or shame in relation to their weight, and this can make it hard to bring it up with a doctor," said Khalil Asmar, vice president of cardiometabolic health at Lilly UK & Ireland.
"We are excited to work with Ashley, and we hope to open up conversations about obesity. Obesity is a chronic, relapsing disease. It’s not a willpower problem. It’s not a lifestyle choice. And it absolutely deserves the same open, judgment-free conversation as any other condition."
