Fears over Kerry’s skinny obsession
While Kerry Katona goes to extremes to ‘look her best’ in the run-up to her 40th, friends worry she’s taking it too far
She was rushed to hospital last month with a mystery illness, leaving her in pain and worrying her family.
But just weeks after returning home, Kerry Katona has been promoting weightloss alternative SkinnyJab injections – and now those close to her are concerned her obsession with extreme dieting is dangerous and could do longterm damage to her health.
The mum of five – who at 5ft 2in has fluctuated between a dress size 6 and 14 over the years – turns 40 next September, and has told close pals she is determined to be in the bestever shape when she reaches the milestone birthday.
Posing in a figure-hugging tracksuit on Instagram recently, she revealed she’d already lost a stone in four weeks, but there are fears her quick-fix yo-yo dieting is putting too much strain on her body after her hospitalisation. As Closer went to press, the mum-of-five – who has endured a traumatic few months following the drugrelated death of ex-husband George Kay at 39 in July – is still unsure why she’s been ill, saying tests are still ongoing.
WARNING
A source says, “There’s no denying Kerry looks great. When she turns 40 next year, she wants to look even better than she did at 20. She also wants to try to lose at least another stone by the New Year, but her mates are worried by how obsessed she seems to be with it at the moment.
“They’ve warned her to be careful, as it was only a couple of weeks ago she was lying in a hospital bed feeling really poorly. Now she’s putting herself and her body under all this pressure, when the most important thing should be resting and recovering.”
According to SkinnyJab’s website, the product works to suppress appetite and reduce sugar cravings. Kerry has defended the weight loss method, saying, “If this pen [which injects the drug into the body] is going to help me lose weight and help me feel good about myself, then what’s the problem?” However, concerns have been raised that no scientific details appear on the products’ online labelling, and no research has been possible into long-term effects.
Kerry first began using the injection in 2017, losing 2st in six weeks, and also had a tummy tuck and liposuction in both 2007 and 2016. But her use of quick-fix weight loss methods have left fans fearful that her children – Molly, 18, Lilly-Sue, 16, Heidi, 12, Maxwell, 11, and five-year-old Dylan-Jorge – could be influenced by her.
UNDER FIRE
Earlier this month, Kerry recorded a passionate Instagram Live video defending the jabs, while she was in the company of Heidi. Then last week, one fan commented on an advertising post, asking, “Should you really be promoting this in front of your daughter? What’s wrong with doing it right – cutting out crap, exercising and keeping it off properly?” While another quizzed, “Would you let your daughters inject this?”
Last year, Kerry came under fire for praising her teenage daughter Lilly-Sue for using the Herbalife plan, which involves taking supplements and meal replacement shakes to slim down. She said, “I know it’s controversial, but I think the Herbalife protein shakes are good for you... She wanted to feel better, so I told her to try the shakes along with eating healthy
meals.” There are concerns the products haven’t been tested enough, with concerns about lead poisoning, liver damage and hepatitis. In response to a request for comment from Closer, Herbalife said, “We always advocate use of our products as part of a balanced diet and exercise.”
CONCERN
Kerry – who insists that she is still exercising while using the jabs, plus watching what she eats – has told friends, despite the concern, she won’t stop using them. The insider adds, “She doesn’t see this as having a negative effect on her children. She argues obesity is unhealthy, so why is it bad for them to see their mum keeping her weight down and feeling great and energetic in the process?”
Although Kerry’s boyfriend Ryan Mahoney, 31 – a fitness and nutrition expert who also promotes the Herbalife programme – has praised Kerry for her change, insiders say he has also urged her to be mindful about slimming methods.
The source adds, “Ryan is an expert on this and is giving Kerry lots of support. He’s always thought exercise and healthy eating is the best way to lose weight and keep it off. He’s wary because he knows some people can become addicted to weight loss jabs, but he says he won’t let that happen to Kerry. His aim is to help her get to a weight she’s happy with and keep her fit and healthy – without needing the jabs.”