ITV's This Morning presenter Alison Hammond struggled to hold back tears as she discussed her own experience during a Dear Deidre phone-in about obesity.
The 47-year-old got emotional on the ITV morning chat show as she explained: “It’s so hard, people don’t realise.
“People look down on people just because they’re so big and they can’t actually help it.
“I’ve had obesity all my life, and what it is is your regulation system is out of whack.
“You can’t control wanting to eat all the time and I think a lot of the time people don’t realise obesity is a disease, you can’t help wanting to eat all the time.
“When you’re in it, it is really difficult because you want to eat and you want all the bad things and you know you don’t look great. Sorry it really touches me.”
Battling through her emotions, Alison urged the NHS to treat obesity as a disease as so many people are turning to surgery to help “because we don’t know what to do”.
Later in the show, co-host Dermot O’Leary called Hamond an “inspiration” and said he was “very proud” of her for speaking out about her experience.
Speaking about her emotional reaction to the discussion, she added: “I felt like I was watching the show, that’s what happened, I was in the moment.
“It’s tough though when you’re big, people think you’re lazy and stuff like that and you eat loads and loads of food.
“It just got to me and I felt like I was at home watching the show and I lost it.”
Fans were quick to jump to Alison's support after she opened up on her struggles.
One replied on Twitter: "Absolutely love Alison, she is spot on I have had weight problems and not happy with my body for years. The amount I eat I shouldn’t be the size I am. Had tests everything comes back normal so frustrating. Alison you are a beautiful person inside and out."
Another said: "Alison is a bloody inspiration for many people. She is incredible for talking so openly about her obesity struggles and the stigma surrounding obesity. She doesn’t need to apologise for crying, shows how hurtful comments and people's judgements can cut deep. Massive respect"
And a third said: "You are amazing. You will have absolutely helped that lady and her daughter and opening up like that on such a public forum was so brave. Sitting here watching you, I just wanted to give you a massive hug. Keep on being you"
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