What’s up, Gemma?
Since the largerthan-life Gemma Collins bounded onto the showbiz scene following her debut appearance on TOWIE in 2011, the bubbly blonde has not only been entertaining us, but she’s been admirably open about her weight battle, which has seen her go from a slender size 14 to a fuller size 22.
Now, six years later – and, in her own words, countless diets down – Gemma, 36, is dangerously close to being at her biggest once more – with experts speculating she’s gained more than six stone. Dietitian Helen Bond ( helenbond.co.uk) tells best, ‘Gemma is a notorious dieter and it seems she has succumbed to old, unhealthy eating habits.’
Adding that she believes Gemma’s weight has dramatically increased, Helen explains, ‘She previously looked to be a size 14 – around 13 ½ st. Now I believe her weight has gone up to around 18 ½ to 19st and a dress size 20. This would mean a BMI of 38/39, which is classified as obese.’
Despite this, Gemma insists she’s happy in her own skin and brimming with confidence.
‘I’m 100 per cent [confident]! You are what you are and that is it,’ she said when best caught up with her at an event last week.
Yet, bravado aside, the TV star is also only too aware of what the ramifications of her weight gain could be, recently confessing that she dreams of returning to a size 14, having been plagued by anxiety about her expanding figure.
Opening up about the pressure to feel slim in the summer, the reality TV starturned-businesswoman said, ‘I do get anxiety about my weight. When we film abroad, it’s a nightmare for me.’
Revealing that she requests a room with a balcony so that she can sunbathe away from prying eyes, Gemma candidly continued, ‘If I go to the pool, I have an awful feeling I’m being stared at.’
So what could be the reasons behind her dramatically fuller figure?
In the past, Gemma has opened up about her often tumultuous personal life – from tragically losing a baby at four-and-a-half months pregnant in 2012 to the heartbreak of a string of failed relationships, including with ex-convict Alex Moss.
Earlier this year, Gemma also spoke out about her crippling loneliness, as well as her fertility struggle and the sad reality that she may never have a biological family of her own. She explained, ‘I didn’t realise how devastating it’s going to be. I went to the clinic to get my eggs frozen and they said you’ve got a really low count of four, and you need 12.’
All factors that, as psychotherapist Claire Hershman (clairehershman. com) explains, could result in someone turning to food for comfort.
‘Most people don’t look after themselves when they’ve taken a hit in life,’ Claire tells us.
‘People who are yo-yo dieting aren’t necessarily
Could there be more to bubbly TOWIE star Gemma Collins’ yo-yoing weight than meets the eye?
dealing with their feelings.’
However, Gemma’s now revealed she’s determined to slim down and is a woman on a mission. Just last week she said, ‘I’m going to spend the rest of this year really concentrating on losing the weight I need to.’
Stating that she knows she’ll ‘get there in the end’, Gemma – who previously took part in ITV series Sugar Free Farm – confessed she also has added motivation to reach her goal weight – so that she can ‘walk down a lovely beach in Barbados, being a perfect size 14, with my gorgeous husband and three kids’.
Fingers crossed Gemma gets her happy ending – after all life’s thrown at her, she deserves it.