Great British Bake Off star Laura Adlington was moved to tears as she watched Alison Hammond break down live on This Morning on Friday as the television presenter spoke about her battle with obesity.
Former Big Brother star Alison, 47, burst into uncontrollable tears as she hosted ITV‘s This Morning alongside Dermot O’Leary, 48, with the broadcaster insisting she ‘can’t help’ having the disease of obesity and that people ‘look down’ on her.
Taking to Instagram on Friday, body-positive Laura, 32, who appeared on GBBO in 2020, wrote on Instagram: ‘Today I watched in tears as @alisonhammond55 talked about her struggle with her weight on This Morning.
Moved: Great British Bake Off star Laura Adlington, 32, was moved to tears as she watched Alison Hammond break down live on This Morning on Friday as she discussed obesity
Honest: Taking to Instagram on Friday, body-positive Laura, who appeared on GBBO in 2020 shared some heartfelt words
‘I love Alison (always have) and I fully support everything she said. Living in a bigger body is not a choice; it is a hard and real struggle, and there is little to no support out there for people who want it.
‘For a long time I have felt that people who grapple with their weight and disordered eating are, sadly, not met with the same empathy or support as people with anorexia or other eating disorders.
‘We are made to feel worthless on a daily basis, told we are lazy, and encouraged to simply “eat less, move more”.
Upset: Former Big Brother star Alison, 47, burst into uncontrollable tears as she hosted ITV’s This Morning alongside Dermot O’Leary, 48
‘The reality is, it’s not that simple. The reasons people over-eat are very complex.
‘To see someone as high-profile and amazing as Alison talk about this today was heartbreaking but so refreshing.
‘And I genuinely hope it leads to more acceptance and understanding.’
Speaking live on This Morning on Friday, Alison said obesity has had a devastating effect on her confidence.
Opening up: Alison insisted she ‘can’t help’ having the disease of obesity and that people ‘look down’ on her
The television personality who previously confessed she was at her heaviest when weighing over 20st and at dress size 28 – began: ‘When you’re big, people think you’re lazy.
‘I’ve had obesity all my life. What it is is, your regulation system is out of whack. You can’t control wanting to eat all the time.
‘A lot of people don’t realise – obesity is a disease. You can’t help it.
Enterprising: After her Great British Bake Off appearance, Laura started her podcast Go Love Yourself in response to the shocking body shaming messages she received after her TV debut
‘Sorry. I get… I think people look down on people when they’re so big. They can’t actually help it.
‘It’s really difficult. You want all the bad things and you know you don’t look great. Sorry. It really touches me. The NHS need to see it more as a disease.’
The heartbreaking confession was brought on by a phone call to the programme’s agony aunt Deidre Saunders, who was being asked for advice about their 17-year-old daughter’s food problems.
Confident: In January, Laura proudly stripped down to a bikini for the first time in her life while holidaying in Mexico, sharing a picture of herself on the beach on Instagram at the time
After the break, the former Big Brother contestant apologised to viewers for her teary-eyed admission, before Dermot warned: ‘Don’t you dare say sorry.’
In January this year, Laura proudly stripped down to a bikini for the first time in her life while holidaying in Mexico, sharing a picture of herself on the beach on Instagram at the time.
The star posed in a leopard print two-piece after finally becoming ‘at peace’ with her body having been at the receiving end of cruel body shaming trolls in the past.
Laura radiated confidence in the sun soaked snap as she posed on the shoreline, writing: ‘Today I wore a bikini on the beach for the first time ever.
‘And, for the first time in my entire life, I can honestly say I feel at peace with my body, instead of at war with it.
Sad times: Last year, Laura explained she had been left ‘heartbroken’ by some of the horrific comments sent her way
‘It’s not a perfect body but it’s mine, and I want to feel the sun on it #selflove #bodyacceptance #bodyconfidence.’
After her Great British Bake Off appearance, Laura started her podcast Go Love Yourself in response to the shocking body shaming messages she received after her TV debut.
Last year, Laura explained she had been left ‘heartbroken’ by some of the horrific comments sent her way.
She insisted: ‘I’m not going to let some d**khead who doesn’t know the difference between “your” and “you’re” get me down.’
The blonde beauty shared a string of nasty comments, including one she said ‘broke’ her that read: ‘You will never have kids as your a whale. Probably the reason you haven’t had them yet.’ [sic]
Responding, Laura told her followers that she ‘felt absolutely heartbroken somebody could be so cruel’ but ‘then remembered the 99.9% of messages I get from you which are supportive and kind’.
For more information or help with an eating disorder, visit www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk.
Devastated: Laura told her followers that she ‘felt absolutely heartbroken somebody could be so cruel’
