'GBBO' star Laura Adlington praises Alison Hammond for obesity discussion

The Great British Bake Off contestant Laura Adlington has praised the "amazing" Alison Hammond for her tearful discussion of obesity on This Morning.

Adlington, who made it to the final of GBBO in 2020, has used her platform to talk about body positivity in the wake of the vile trolling she received during her time on the show.

She wrote on Instagram that it was "heart-breaking but so refreshing" to see Alison Hammond discuss her struggles with weight so openly on a major TV show.

Read more: Laura Adlington received support from Game of Thrones star

Hammond broke down on Friday's episode of This Morning, revealing her distress at the way people talk about overweight people as if they're "lazy".

She said: "I just think people look down on people just because they are so big and they can’t actually help it when you’ve actually got a disease."

Adlington confessed that she had also been in tears while watching Hammond speak her truth and "fully supported" her comments.

"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," said the baker.

Read more: Alison Hammond says she has PTSD over school "elephant" comments

She added: "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’. 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 heart-breaking but so refreshing. And I genuinely hope it leads to more acceptance and understanding."

Adlington has spoken publicly about her own struggles with body confidence, sharing a picture earlier this year of the day in which she wore a bikini on the beach for the first time.

Read more: Bridgerton star doesn't want to always be asked about her weight

She wrote: "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. It’s not a perfect body but it’s mine, and I want to feel the sun on it."

The star has also begun fronting her own podcast, entitled Go Love Yourself, in which she discusses online trolling and issues around body positivity.

Watch: Alison Hammond cries as she discusses obesity on This Morning