Great British Bake Off presenter Alison Hammond has struggled with her weight for most of her adult life — but today she says she finally feels confident, healthy and genuinely at peace with herself.
Now 50, Alison recently stunned fans after revealing she is happily in love with boyfriend David, 28, and has even dropped a quiet marriage bombshell after shedding an astonishing 13 stone.
At her heaviest, Alison weighed close to 30 stone. She has previously admitted that she sometimes booked an extra airline seat to avoid discomfort or embarrassment for other passengers. Over the years, she has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of her size — from the trauma of having a gastric band fitted to feeling deeply ashamed of her appearance.
So what really sparked the transformation?
Ahead of presenting the festive repeat of last year’s Great Christmas Bake Off this Saturday (December 20), Alison has finally opened up about the powerful moment that changed everything.
The turning point, she says, was the heartbreaking loss of her mother in 2020. Her mum, who suffered from type-2 diabetes, had repeatedly warned Alison about the dangers after she herself was diagnosed as pre-diabetic.
“Mum said to me, ‘If you can, sort out your weight, Alison,’” she told Good Housekeeping.
Those words, combined with grief and fear, stayed with her — and ignited a determination she had never felt before.
Although Alison has publicly supported weight-loss medication for those who need it, she admitted she personally chose not to go down the injection route because of safety concerns. She hasn’t ruled it out forever, but so far, she says, her weight loss has been achieved without jabs or injections.
Earlier this year, Alison told Closer that she has now lost around 13st 7lbs — and insists there was no extreme dieting or punishing regime behind it.
Instead, she works with a personal trainer when she can, fits in walks on busy days, eats in moderation and no longer believes in denying herself food.
“I don’t deny myself anything,” she said.
There is, however, one lifestyle change she credits above all others: giving up alcohol.
During a segment on This Morning, Alison revealed that becoming teetotal has completely changed her life. She said she now wakes up feeling clearer, happier and healthier. Even though co-host Dermot O’Leary pointed out she had never been a heavy drinker, Alison insisted the impact has been huge.
“Teetotal is the way forward,” she declared.
Her transformation hasn’t just improved her health — it has transformed her personal life too.
With her relationship with Russian masseur David Putman growing stronger, friends say wedding plans are firmly back on the table. The couple, who have a 22-year age gap, began dating in December 2023 and went public with their romance in 2024, soon making their red-carpet debut.
Alison has described their connection as fitting together “like a jigsaw” and recently said David has “the most beautiful energy.” Insiders say her desire to look and feel her best on her wedding day has only intensified her focus.
Beyond weight loss, Alison has also invested heavily in skincare, regular facials and natural products. She now works out consistently, walks more than ever and feels her confidence — and energy — soaring. With whispers of new professional opportunities, including possible work in the US, those close to her say she is happier and more motivated than she has been in years.
And after everything she’s been through, Alison says she finally feels grateful — not just for the body she’s rebuilt, but for the love she’s found.