Moving to another country unexpectedly changed one American man's relationship with food, exercise and his weight.

Russell Valentin, a 32-year-old American food creator, weighed 21 stone 6 pounds when he left Chicago for London in January 2025. He now weighs 12 stone 5 pounds, a difference of more than nine stone. Valentin says the change happened without the restrictive diets and punishing workouts he had previously relied on, instead crediting differences in his everyday diet and walking more than 12,000 steps a day.

His story is striking, but it does not mean that British food itself causes weight loss. Rather, his experience highlights how everyday eating patterns and physical activity can influence weight over time.

What Changed When He Moved to London?

Before moving, Valentin said his typical meals included waffles, eggs, bacon and coffee for breakfast, a sandwich with fruit and crisps for lunch, and meat and vegetables for dinner. He also regularly snacked on crisps and sweets.

After moving to London, he said breakfast shifted to toast or a crumpet, while snacks became lighter. His lunch and dinner remained largely unchanged. He also sold his car, meaning he began walking much more as part of his daily routine. His step count eventually passed 12,000 a day.

Valentin said previous attempts to lose weight by aggressively restricting calories and exercising intensely had made the process difficult to maintain. After moving, he noticed his weight declining without making the same level of conscious effort.

Can Walking 12,000 Steps a Day Help With Weight Loss?

Regular physical activity can contribute to weight loss because it increases the amount of energy the body uses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking, along with muscle-strengthening activities on at least two days.

There is no universal number of daily steps that guarantees weight loss, however. A person's energy needs, diet, body composition, health and activity level all affect how their weight changes.

For Valentin, walking may have become particularly important because it was built into his daily life rather than treated as a separate workout. Walking to places instead of driving can increase physical activity without requiring a formal exercise session.

Research-backed guidance similarly emphasises regular physical activity as part of a broader approach to managing weight.

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Is British Food Really Better for Weight Loss?

Valentin believes differences between American and British food contributed to his transformation. He specifically mentioned lower amounts of high-fructose corn syrup and added sugar, smaller portions and what he described as more straightforward food labelling in the UK.

Those observations are part of his personal experience, though, and should not be interpreted as proof that British food is inherently healthier or that American food causes weight gain.

Weight is influenced by the overall amount and type of food consumed, as well as physical activity and other individual factors. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends a sustainable eating pattern built around foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and sources of protein, while limiting added sugars and saturated fat.

In other words, the foods themselves may matter less than the broader eating pattern, portions and habits surrounding them.

Why Sustainable Changes May Matter More Than Extreme Diets

Valentin's experience also highlights a common challenge with weight loss: a plan that is difficult to maintain may be difficult to sustain over time.

He said his previous approach involved aggressively cutting calories and exercising intensely, which made the process "miserable and unmanageable." After moving, his lifestyle changed in smaller ways that became part of his daily routine.

Health guidance generally supports sustainable changes rather than relying on extreme approaches. NIDDK notes that a healthy eating plan that can be maintained over time, combined with regular physical activity, can support weight loss and help people maintain it.

That does not mean everyone needs to walk 12,000 steps a day or move to another country to lose weight. For some people, smaller changes such as walking more, adjusting portions or choosing more nutrient-dense foods may be easier to maintain than an intensive diet or exercise programme.

Valentin's nine-stone weight loss followed a major change in his environment, eating habits and daily activity. While he credits British food and walking more than 12,000 steps a day, his experience cannot establish that British food itself caused his weight loss.

The more useful lesson may be that everyday habits can add up. Regular movement and a balanced eating pattern can support healthy weight management, particularly when those changes are realistic enough to become part of daily life rather than a short-term challenge.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can walking 12,000 steps a day help with weight loss?
    Walking 12,000 steps a day can contribute to weight loss by increasing physical activity, but individual results may vary based on diet and other factors.
  • Is British food better for weight loss?
    British food may have differences such as lower high-fructose corn syrup content, but weight loss depends more on overall eating patterns and lifestyle.
  • Why are sustainable changes important for weight loss?
    Sustainable changes are important because they are easier to maintain over time, supporting long-term weight management without extreme measures.
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