James Argent has explained how a combination of comfort eating and lack of exercise has seen him balloon to a worrying weight – prompting fears he will die if he does not get help.
The 33-year-old former The Only Way Is Essex star is in despair after weighing himself to find the scales tipping just shy of 27 stone.
The reality star says the boredom of lockdown and the lack of a girlfriend or wife have been catalysts for his latest weight gain.
Arg has previously been as slim as 14 stone as an adult, but has seen his weight yo-yo in recent years – while the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns have added to his woes.
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Speaking to The Sun, Arg explained that he had been on track to getting his life in shape last year – hitting the gym and swimming pool and increasing his work as a live singer.
But his plans and progress were derailed with the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown last March.
He said: “I’d made some progress last year with my weight loss as I was enjoying boxing and going swimming — but all of a sudden I could no longer do that.
“I don’t have a routine anymore without the gym and I spend a lot of time alone.
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“I’m bored and have more time on my hands as all my gigs are cancelled. I have no wife, girlfriend or children to talk to and it gets lonely, so I do turn to food. I turn to food when I’m happy, too.
“I’ve had to delete the food delivery apps off my phone, otherwise it’s too easy to order whatever I fancy — usually fizzy drinks, chewy sweets, ice cream, chocolate, pizza.”
During his candid interview, the star also revealed he is now so large he cannot tie his own laces.
While he has scheduled a meeting with doctors in the coming weeks to discuss options for gastric surgery – confessing he fears he will die without surgical help to lose weight.
In the past, Arg famously slimmed down following treatment at a rehabilitation facility in 2015.
He got down to 14st after famously quitting vices including drugs and booze and focusing on his health and fitness.
Last year the reality star stunned fans when he revealed he almost died twice over the course of the previous year after struggling with drug addiction.
The star credited now ex-girlfriend Gemma Collins with saving his life after she called 999 after he had collapsed alone at home after taking drugs.