Chantelle Houghton, known for her appearance on "Celebrity Big Brother," has spoken openly about her struggle with disordered eating and the concerning reactions from her friends and family during a period of rapid weight loss in 2023. The 42-year-old stated that individuals close to her questioned if she was using drugs due to her significant weight reduction.
Houghton's weight fluctuations have been a public topic for years. Her most recent weight loss journey began after she reached 13 stone following her 2021 separation from ex-fiancé Michael Strutt. During this time, she faced considerable online trolling regarding her weight. Houghton, who has battled body dysmorphia for over two decades, reported becoming fixated on losing weight after shedding more than four stone during the pandemic.
As the pounds rapidly fell off, Houghton described a sensation of "getting a buzz" from fitting into her then 12-year-old daughter's clothing. However, this rapid weight loss also prompted alarming observations from her loved ones. "People were saying I was a crackhead," Houghton recalled. "I remember my brother looking at me one day and saying, 'Chantelle, if I didn't know you, I'd think you were dying.'"
The experience led Houghton to confront the severity of her actions, asking herself, "Am I going to die for this? Am I going to kill myself?" She told The Sun that she felt "100 years old," experiencing constant pain and extreme weakness that affected her ability to perform daily activities like walking her dog. Houghton realized her body was "shutting down" and that she was "slowly killing myself through not eating. I was starving myself to death."
Houghton has since stated that she is now at a healthy weight and feels more confident. "I feel like a woman again, with curves in the right places," she said. "I don’t feel weak anymore and I don’t get out of bed in pain."
Houghton first gained fame in 2006 as a contestant on "Celebrity Big Brother," where she won the series. She was briefly married to singer Preston for one year after meeting on the show. Her other notable relationships include an engagement to Alex Reid, with whom she has a daughter, Dolly. She has also spoken about her long period of being single, focusing on raising her daughter and stating a preference for being alone rather than in an unhappy relationship.
