Advertisement

James Argent 'substituted drink and drugs for food' and gained nine stone in lockdown

James Argent has apparently been banned from the budget airline (Credit: Getty Images)
James Argent (Getty Images)

James Argent says he gained ‘eight or nine stone’ during lockdown, weighing 27 stone at his heaviest.

In an interview with Naga Munchetty on BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday, The Only Way Is Essex star said he substituted others addictions with one for food, leading him to gain the life-threatening weight.

“I have previously suffered with addiction problems in terms of alcohol and drugs so I do believe I kind of substituted drink and drugs for food,” Argent said.

“But lockdown unfortunately heightened things and it got to the point where I had become the biggest I had ever been and in terms of health, it became extremely dangerous for me, so I thought I needed to do something about it.”

Watch: Gemma Collins reveals how James Argent's drug addiction 'ripped through' her family

Read more: 'TOWIE' star James Argent celebrates sobriety milestone a year after near fatal overdose

After revealing that he thinks he gained about "eight or nine stone" over a year, due to "boredom, loneliness and isolation", Argent admitted that it was doctors and his family’s health history made him realise the impact of his weight gain on his life expectancy.

James Argent from TV show 'The Only Way Is Essex' attends the Megamind 3D Gala Screening at Vue West End on November 28, 2010 in London, England. *** Local Caption ***
James Argent in 2010 (Getty)

“I think your life expectancy, if you’re that much over weight, can take 10 plus years off of your life,” the reality star shared.

“Not just that, my mum and my dad both suffer with heart conditions, my dad’s got a pacemaker.”

“So all that extra weight I knew wasn’t going to be good for my heart and I just knew I had to do something about it.”

DARWEN, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 29: James Argent attends the launch of the Ssangyong Musso pick up at Fun Motor Group on November 29, 2018 in Darwen, England. (Photo by Carla Speight/Getty Images)
James Argent in 2018 (Getty Images)

Argent, 33, is five weeks post surgery after getting a gastric sleeve, and says he feels better already.

“I’ve already lost three and a half stone, I’ve gone from 27 to 23 and a half stone,” he said.

“The team at Transform Hospital Group, the doctors and nurses... they’ve just been fully, fully supportive.”

“They’ve been on the phone to me all the time and I just feel like I’ve made the right decision and I feel better already.”

Read more: James Argent reveals fears he would die during gastric op

Munchetty asked Argent whether he had specifically booked an appointment about his weight or whether it was a routine appointment.

“No, I did specifically go and see my local GP [about the weight],” he admitted.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 22:  James Argent and Gemma Collins attends the National Television Awards held at the O2 Arena on January 22, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
James Argent and Gemma Collins, who have dated in the past, seen together in 2019. (Getty Images)

“This weight loss surgery, the gastric sleeve which I had, it wasn’t all of sudden this thing where I’d put on all of this weight and I thought ‘I want to do something drastic’.”

“I’ve been up and down with my weight for many, many years and it was always something I had kind of considered, but this just felt like the right time to do it and I’m glad I have.”

Watch: 3 must-have products for dog owners