Bake Off Winner And Strictly Star John Whaite Reveals Steroid Addiction

TV cook John Whaite has revealed his five-year addiction to steroids "made maine want to extremity my life".

The 36-year-old is champion known for winning The Great British Bake Off successful 2012, and came 2nd arsenic a contestant connected Strictly Come Dancing successful 2021.

In an affectional video posted connected Instagram, nan 36-year-old revealed he had been "taking anabolic steroids illegally for 5 years, and these things person really, really messed pinch my life".

He said he was speaking retired now successful nan dream that "young lads will deliberation very cautiously astir really they dainty their bodies".

Whaite is besides known for fronting cooking segments connected daytime shows specified arsenic ITV's Lorraine and Steph's Packed Lunch.

• 'Steroids gave maine bosom nonaccomplishment astatine 30 and I could dice early'
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He told his followers he began taking steroids during lockdown "because I looked successful nan reflector and hated what I saw".

Whaite explained he has bulimia, an eating disorder, and assemblage dysmorphia, wherever a personification perceives defects successful their ain assemblage which are often little noticeable to others.

He said: "The much group acknowledged really I looked connected steroids, nan much I felt bully astir myself, I felt valid."

He said 1 broadside effect was that his testicles had shrunk: "I've sewage mini balls now, there's your headline," he said.

Whaite besides said steroids had led to him having acne and an unregulated activity drive.

The cook and TV presenter said he decided to speak retired aft he heard a younger antheral personnel of his family discussing a "dangerously beardown steroid".

"I americium genuinely worried for nan young lads increasing up and seeing these unrealistic physiques connected Instagram," Whaite said successful nan tearful video.

"You've only sewage 1 body, truthful please conscionable respect it, please conscionable fto it do what it tin do, don't effort and push it, stretch, eat well, effort and get to nan spot wherever you look successful nan reflector and you spot yourself pinch benignant eyes."

Taking steroids, he added, had been a "stupid determination of my own", adding that he was "tired of being tethered to this solution".

In a caption accompanying nan video, Whaite concluded: "Steroids person made maine want to extremity my life.

"That stops now. I take life. I take health. I take love. I take a simpler life."

The BBC has contacted Whaite for comment.

Anabolic steroids - a man-made constituent that copies nan antheral hormone testosterone - are people C narcotics that are ineligible for individual use.

Pharmacists tin rumor them, but only pinch a prescription.

But it is forbidden to proviso aliases waste them, including giving them to friends. This carries a maximum situation condemnation of 14 years.

Seizures of anabolic steroids accrued by 26% successful nan UK past twelvemonth to 995,830 doses, astir were recovered astatine nan UK border.

There is nary charismatic aesculapian investigation aliases guidance connected really to trim risks of taking them.

The steroids extremity galore of nan body's normal usability including sperm production. Side effects specified arsenic testicle shrinkage can beryllium reversible erstwhile men extremity taking nan drug, but it whitethorn return years and often is not complete.

If you've been affected by immoderate of nan issues successful this story, you tin find support via BBC Action Line.