RETIRED journalist James Larkin hated the way he looked when he weighed 134kgs - a "big blob of blubber”, is his description.

His doctor had refused to operate on him because of his size, and he was reluctant to attend his son's wedding.

His own loathing of his appearance was a catalyst for change - and his change of attitude to eating the subject for his first e-book.

Titled This Age of Eating - a Time to Change, the ebook focuses on a need to review our attitude to food, nutrition and health.

"Never in history has humanity eaten so much, so frequently and so incorrectly,” Mr Larkin said.

"Health costs soar because many illnesses and diseases are caused by eating wrongly.

"We need to change our attitude to food. Diets are no good. We need a permanent solution - a change in lifestyle.

"We need to educate ourselves more about food. Sensible eating results in better health, weight loss and increased happiness.”

The 78-year-old author from Tweed Heads South has put his ideas into practice.

He has recently lost 40kgs (more than six stone) and says that shedding of weight saved his life.

"I talk about it in my book and I hope that it encourages people to do some research on their food and eating habits,” he said.

"There's a lot we don't know about food and yet we are what we eat. It would be nice if the food and eating was seriously included as a subject in schools.”

Mr Larkin has lost 25kgs in the past year alone, with help from his son.

"My son opened my eyes to the fact that you can't just cut down,” he said.

"It takes mental control to change. It's just protein, lots of vegetables, salads and meat.

"I'm still on the diet now - I want to lose another 10kgs.

"It doesn't happen overnight and you want it to stay off.

"It was difficult for me because I'm a vegetarian.”

Details of This Age of Eating - a Time to Change are at amazon.com/authors/james larkin.