Flintshire man launches website aimed at other dads

After going through an overwhelming period of loss, John Gaulton, from Connah's Quay, was inspired to create dadbodsuk.com, which has health and wellbeing at its core.

He said: "We, as a family, had been through a tough time. In the space of nine months we lost three members of our family.

"It had been a hectic, horrible time, especially with covid, and it had a big affect on all of us."

Read more: Men's mental health charity is launches first North Wales branch

The 44-year-old marketing manager struggled to keep it together, to stay strong for his wife, and kept a lot of things to himself.

John said: "It affected me tremendously and still does. I felt it hard to talk to family as they were also upset and dealing with the loss.

"Talking to other dads in the gyms and in conversations it made me realise the amount of issues and daily life problems dads are dealing with, and as we know, we like to put on a front most of the time and hide what is really going on.

"Talking to other dads helped me through it but it took me a long time to speak to anyone."

He eventually opened up to his boss, who had suspected something was wrong. It was from this that John set about creating the dadbodsuk.com platform.

The dadbods website.

He said: "I am hoping this platform can be an easy way to discuss openly and get support from other dads in similar situations.

"Even if it's just to spur them on in losing weight or getting fit, something to get them talking on a safe friendly forum.

"Whether it's about being a new dad or football, just a chance to get talking."

On his own mission to improve his physical and mental health, John has signed up to take part a charity boxing match, taking place in December.

He added: "I'm sharing my fitness journey with the dadbods Facebook group. I now feel better about myself, which leads to feeling happier."

Joining the community of dads is free, visit dadbodsuk.com for more details