Laura Adlington spoke in a new episode of her podcast about the stigma surrounding fertility and says doctors advised her to lose 14 stones to embark on an IVF journey, but feels guilty for not being able to lose weight.
The Great British Bake Off star (32) spoke to her best friend Lauren Smith and opened up to restrictions around fertility treatments and even adoption, with some local authorities rejecting applications based on BMI / weight.
Speaking on her Go Love Yourself podcast, she said: ‘The cut-off point for IVF is BMI over 30, so she [the doctor] was as if you were probably looking at about 14 stones that need to come down. And I just sat there like, well … ‘
Honestly: Laura Adlington spoke candidly about the stigma surrounding great fertility in a new episode of her podcast
Laura found that she could not lose the weight and therefore did not receive the treatment – something for which she felt ‘enormous shame’.
She explained: ‘We could not do it because I just could not [lose] the weight … and I still feel an enormous amount of shame about it … I know I will live to regret it.
“I can totally understand why people would just lose weight then. I understand. I would look at someone else [who hasn’t managed to lose weight] and think “well, you do not want it that much”. ‘
She added: ‘You use food for comfort, and you’re sad because you can not have a baby. What are you going to do, just lead a double miserable existence? ‘
Frank: Talk to her best friend Lauren Smith, the Great British Bake Off star (32) has opened up to restrictions on fertility treatments and even adoption, with some local authorities rejecting applications based on BMI / weight (photo on GBBO 2020)
The friends then talked about the rules around BMI and adoption, with Laura saying, ‘Let’s be realistic, if your weight is seriously affecting your health, [to the extent] that you can not physically look after a child, well. I understand that. You have to want the best for that child. ‘
Lauren responded by saying: ‘But with any health condition – not just weight. There seems to be this emphasis on weight when it comes to fertility. It should be any health condition. ‘
Laura echoes: ‘It’s just ridiculous. It does not make sense to me if there are many children out there who need a loving home that can provide us with abundance. ‘
She continued, ‘Isn’t this weight stigma at its best? It’s like saying to someone, sorry, you can not accept, because you can get dementia. Sorry, you can not assume, because you might be in a car accident in five years … it’s just fat phobia at its absolute best. ‘
She added that her drugs were refused to promote fertility due to her weight.
She said: ‘We [plus-size women] are not even allowed drugs, such as clomid, a drug that is supposed to help you ovulate more often – I’m not even allowed. Nothing. It’s like you do not exist, you do not matter. ‘
Laura, who previously revealed that she was considering a tummy tuck before her Bake Off debut, started the podcast in response to the shocking body shame messages she received after her TV debut.
Laura explained last year that she was left ‘heartbroken’ by some of the horrific remarks sent to her, but insisted: ‘I’m not going to allow a nd ** khead that does not differentiate between’ you ‘and’ you ‘ “get me down.”
The blonde beauty shared a string of nasty remarks, including one that she said ‘broke her’ that read: ‘You will never have children like you a whale. Probably a factor as to why they’re doing so poorly. ‘ [sic]
Trolling: Laura, who previously revealed that she was considering a tummy tuck before her Bake Off debut, started the podcast in response to the shocking body shame messages she received after her TV debut
Laura responded and told her followers that she ‘felt absolutely sad someone could be so cruel’, but ‘then remembered the 99.9% of the messages I get from you that are supportive and kind’.
Her response reads in full: ‘This nasty message broke me yesterday. It was so personal, especially the baby comments, and I felt absolutely sad someone could be so cruel.
‘It made me want to delete my account and hide. But then I remember the 99.9% of the messages I get from you that are supportive and friendly.
‘Thank you to those of you who send messages, who like and comment and are supportive. It really means so much.
‘I like helping people and I know how hard it is to feel comfortable in a bigger body and find nice clothes.
‘That’s why I share what I do. Thank you to those of you who get it. ‘
She concluded: “And don’t worry, I’m not going to let some d ** k head who doesn’t know the difference between” you “and” you “know me.
Horrible: Laura explained last year that she was left ‘heartbroken’ by some of the horrific comments sent to her side while sharing screenshots of the messages
Laura had previously opened up to the Daily Mail about her being diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder at the age of 24.
Laura revealed that she has been on anxiety medication for five years, and was initially unsure if she should apply at Bake Off 2020 and did not know if she could handle the process and attention.
She explained she hardly applied because she was worried about how the social media trolls would deal with a ‘bigger girl’ appearing on a baking show.
But Laura decided to overcome her fears and said, “I decided I had enough self-loathing – I do not have to deal with other people’s opinions of my size.”
Laura’s bold response reads: ‘This nasty message broke me yesterday. It was so personal, especially the baby comments, and I felt absolutely sad that someone could be so cruel. ‘
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