Jessica Rout, 29, first noticed changes in her body as a teenager
Mum with belly ‘overhang’
A mum who suffers with a large belly overhang has told how no amount of dieting will ever shift it. Jessica Rout, 29, first noticed her stomach looked different as a teenager and said he would often try to hide it and lose weight with hopes it would disappear.
The mum-of-one from Hull, East Yorkshire, says her belly ruined her self-confidence even leading her to try and get surgery to remove it. Jessica later discovered her belly was caused by a genetic disorder known as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome which causes her skin to become more elasticated.
She also says weight fluctuations and having her daughter have all contributed. But she has since started an Instagram account where she proudly shows off her overhang and says her videos have boosted her confidence as well as her millions of viewers.
Jessica said: “As a teenager when I was getting ready with the girls I’d notice that my belly was different. I’d try and hide it constantly or desperately try to lose weight with hope it would disappear.
“At my lightest weight it was still there – during my high school years. I remember I loved peplum-style tops or dresses because they’d hide it.
“I’d see no one in magazines or TV programmes with the same body as me growing up. My overhang in my teens was slightly flatter in size but it was very much still there.
“It has changed in size over the years, just like every female body does. When I was pregnant, of course it became bigger but that’s natural.
“In a world in which is so heavily opinionated, one in which society deems only one body type to be perfect, and one in which certain body types aren’t represented, I will represent.
“I am so appreciative of all the kind comments and messages I receive daily and It honestly makes me know I’m doing right by inspiring other women.”
Jessica says she has been made fun off in the past for her stomach which at one point led her to surgery to try and remove it. The mum currently weighs 12 stone but even at her lightest weight as a teenager of nine stone, her overhang was still present.
In attempts to lose weight she tried multiple weight loss and diet programmes including Slimming World, Weight Watchers, and restricted eating but neither worked. She said: “I’ve been made fun of in the past.
“My overhang has affected me massively in the past, especially in my teens. I faced many battles in my mind, questioning why I had this belly.
“None of my friends had this stomach, no one in magazines or TV programmes had it – honestly, I hated my body. I’d try everything to hide it, I’d wear waist trainers to suck my tummy in, I’d go on silly diets, I’d buy the tightest shape wear I could find.
“It makes me sad to think back to how many times it has mentally drained me. If I was going on holiday – my belly overhang would be on my mind – how can I hide this in swimwear? Constantly comparing myself to other women’s body’s.
“When I was younger I booked an appointment consultation with a surgeon – I think it was around 2016. I went to my appointment with only one thing in mind – I wanted rid of my belly overhang.
“The surgeon examined my belly, he instantly asked if I’d had children – which just goes to show how quick people are to make assumptions on the female body.
“I guess this is because after pregnancy some women experience a ‘mum tum’ which I guess mine looked similar. The surgeon discussed the procedure and I realised it wasn’t just a quick fix, it was a long procedure and a dangerous one too.
“The surgeon advised me that I could lose as much weight as I wanted but eventually I would require surgery to remove the loose skin. He recommended waiting till after I finished having a family until doing so.”
The in 2022, Jessica started her social media page in hopes to change narratives of women living with her body type. Her Instagram page – called jesslourx_ – involves her getting dressed, starting from her in her underwear revealing her belly at the beginning of every video.
Jessica says: “I started my page to change the narrative on social media, putting my body type out there, representing women that feel unseen because I know I’m not the only person in this world with my belly.
“It’s more common than we think. Over the past nearly three years – I’ve grown a community of mainly women, by sharing video of me basically getting dressed, showing outfits and of course my belly overhang.
“It gains negative comments of course, that’s the sad reality we live in. But it’s also helped thousands of women feel seen, I’m representing so many other woman’s bodies, I’m changing the narrative.
“I’m showing up. Brands, magazines, tv – they need to become more open minded, they need to understand that there is a whole audience waiting to be represented and if they cannot do that- then I will.
“So many women have a mum tum, apron belly, belly overhang – it’s normal – it’s beautiful. It’s just not seen which is why it draws attention to the negative comments.”
On her posts Jessica has received thousands of troll comments making fun of her belly, but she says online trolls don’t affect her and she thinks she is beautiful.
She said: “Trolls will be around, as long as social media allows them to be. It’s as simple as that. You could be a size 6 runway model and still the trolls would have their opinions.
“Unfortunately I do believe that this is the downfall of social media, accounts can be created in 2 seconds, there is no need to prove who you are, you can be anymore – scary really.
“I have nothing to say to the trolls, I just think what a sad lonely life they must have. I will continue to represent that that we all are worthy. Our bodies deserve to be on those billboards, on those websites, seen on socials – they’re not to be ashamed of.”