Alison Hammond has said she kicked her 11-stone weight loss journey into action after her mother commented on her size for the first time in her life.
In recent years, the This Morning presenter, 51, has undertaken a health and fitness regime – and she has now opened up about what motivated her to start it up in an episode of the ITV daytime series.
During a segment about weight, she told co-host Dermot O’Leary and guest Janet Street-Porter: “I'll never forget when my mum was really ill in hospital. She looked at me – she's never commented on my weight my whole life – she said ‘Alison, don't end up like me; try and sort out your weight.’”
Hammond has focused on consistency, support and mindset rather than quick results, and paid tribute to the trainers who helped her along the way in January.
”Massive thank you to the incredible @ellisgatfield who started my whole fitness journey… You made my life so much easier by simple changes and kindness.”
She also thanked other trainers and gyms for their continued encouragement, describing accountability and support as key to sustaining long-term lifestyle changes.
In 2024, Hammond opened up about her past weight struggles on This Morning, telling her co-host Dermot O’Leary: “I was nearly 28 stone, I’ll be honest with you, and that is morbidly obese. I used to buy an extra seat [on airplanes] because I didn’t want to put anyone in a situation where I was touching them.”
The former Big Brother contestant continued: “I was made to feel uncomfortable on one occasion when I was so close to someone’s seat and they asked to move but they ended up moving me into first class.
“It was embarrassing the whole thing and from that moment I just started buying two seats. I don’t do it anymore because I’ve lost a bit of timber, but not everyone can afford to do that.”
Hammond recently called out critics of the 23-year age gap with her boyfriend, Russian model and massage therapist David Puttnam, stating: “It is nothing to do with anyone else.”
When asked about those who use the word “toyboy” when describing 28-year-old Puttnam, the presenter said: “Yeah, people are going to talk. People do. But that's their business, not mine.”
She previously commented that when the term “toyboy” is used in reference to their relationship, she feels it “bears no relation to what we have at all”.
“I've got a lovely man in my life,” Hammond said. “It's just easy. I think that's when you know you've got something special. He just sees me for who I am.”
The presenter was previously in a relationship with Noureddine Boufaied, the father of her 19-year-old son Aidan.
