Arg: My addiction almost destroyed my mum
‘Arg’ may be tipping 27st – but this, like his addiction issues before it, is one battle he’s determined to win…
The Only Way Is Essex star James ‘Arg’ Argent recently admitted that doctors had given him a severe health warning over his weight gain – telling him that catching Coronavirus at his size could prove ‘fatal’.
But the troubled reality star, who ballooned during lockdown to almost 27st, wanted to reassure fans in an Instagram video last week that he’s working on it, and has got his head in the right place.
‘I know you’ve all been worried, but I can honestly say I feel so much more positive and so much better in myself.’
For Arg, 33, who revealed recently he feared for his life and is considering options such as a gastric sleeve and a gastric bypass, his body struggles follow his drug addiction nightmare.
Last October on Loose Women, the star broke down as he charted the effects of his seven-year addiction which, at its height, he said, saw him bingeing on cocaine.
Sobbing, Gemma Collins’ on-off boyfriend detailed the ‘torture’ it had put those he loved through, admitting that his mum Patricia’s trauma was so great during the darkest days, she had to seek counselling.
Choked up, the reality star added, ‘Do you know what, it’s one thing putting myself through it and ruining my own life, but it’s the effect you have on your family and friends.
‘ When I’m in active addiction it’s a bit of a blur to me. In terms of my mum, my dad, my sister, my friends and family, they had to deal with it day-to-day.’
He added: ‘My mum’s amazing… I feel terrible because she’s had to have counselling.’
Arg said his actions had made Patricia question herself, asking, ‘Is it something I’ve done?’
Patricia described her son’s drugs battle as ‘the scariest thing I ever had to go through’, adding, ‘ You bring children into the world you want to love and look after them. It was totally out of my hands, I couldn’t save him.’
As Arg admitted: ‘I can say “sorry” all I want and treat mum to meals, get her jewellery. But the only thing that’s ever going to really make things up with my friends and family is to carry on doing what I’m doing.’
Well, so far, so good. Arg is clean, and determined to transform his body, before it’s too late.
‘All I can do is carry on doing what I’m doing’