Josie Gibson's Battle with Weight: She Lost Five Stone in Three Months and Revealed Her Diagnosis

It started with a sweat-drenched gym video — but what the 40-year-old "This Morning" presenter revealed next left fans stunned.

In a deeply personal Instagram post on Friday, 9 January, TV darling Josie Gibson opened up about the painful reason behind her years of battling weight. And it wasn't just bad habits — it was something far more complex, hidden beneath the surface.

'Fighting My Genetics': Josie's Silent Struggle with Lipedema

Sharing footage of her gym circuit, Gibson confessed her emotional uphill battle.

"Hope this inspires someone out there," she wrote modestly. "Not that I think I'm an inspiration."

But she is — especially after bravely revealing her little-known medical condition: lipedema, a fat disorder that causes disproportionate fat storage and chronic pain, most commonly in women.

"The fight is real as my body retains fat unlike a normal body should," she explained. "I have not shared because I thought it looked pretty obvious anyway."

Despite this daunting diagnosis, Gibson has thrown herself into fitness with a renewed purpose.

"Gyms can be intimidating sometimes but we are all there for the same reason," she added. "And I love getting stuck into my own little circuits."

Flood of Support From Fans With Same Condition

The post ignited a heartfelt wave of messages from fans — especially those silently suffering from lipedema too.

"You look fantastic! 😍 I have it too... it's a constant battle, isn't it? Lymph drainage exercises and anti-inflammatory diet help me so much," one person wrote.

Another offered a virtual embrace, "As a lipodema lady myself, I know how hard it is lovely. Well done for trying hard xxx ❤️❤️❤️."

And one fan echoed what so many were thinking, "Love this for you. You are a massive inspiration… Josie you are looking fabulous. Best of luck with your continued empowerment 🙌🙌 really lovely of you to share."

From Champagne and Gout… to Spam and Success

Gibson's transformation didn't happen overnight — or without sacrifices. In late 2025, she fronted her Channel 5 documentary, "The 1970s Diet: Could It Work for You?" exploring whether the retro eating habits of boiled potatoes, liver, beans, and Angel Delight could work in today's world.

The results? Astonishing. Within just three months, Gibson lost an eye-watering five stone!

Speaking to HELLO!, personal trainer Monty Simmons applauded her efforts. "I really respect what Josie's done," Simmons said. "[...] Losing five stone is no easy feat, it requires a huge amount of dedication."

"It's admirable that she's done it without weight-loss jabs," he added. "You need to find what works for you — and this clearly did the job."

She Was Diagnosed With Gout After Filming 'Around the World in First Class'

But Gibson's road to health hasn't been smooth. Just before the diet documentary, she underwent a health MOT following her globetrotting series "Around the World in First Class."

The diagnosis? Gout.

"I kept saying to the nurse, 'My toes keep hurting,'" she recalled to The Mirror in April 2025. "I thought gout was only for old men but I have been living quite a lavish life."

"Before I filmed ['The 1970s Diet'], I caught a lot of flights, I drank a lot of champagne, I ate a lot of rich food and I had little sleep. That's how I ended up getting gout."

That jet-set life came crashing down when she swapped luxury for liver and spam. "I've come from one extreme to the other," she joked. "I went from living my finest life ever to being brought down to earth with a bang."

Her Body Was 48 Percent Fat — But Doctors Called Her Supremely Fit

With the help of a dedicated nutritionist, Gibson committed to a rigid '70s-style meal plan, built around smaller portions and no-frills foods. At the start of her journey, she tipped the scales at 16 stone, with a staggering 48 percent body fat.

And yet — in a revelation that shocked even her — she was told she was still in supreme fitness condition.

And by the time she sat down for her post-diet interview, her gout had miraculously vanished. "As soon as I stopped catching all the flights and started drinking a bit more water and less champagne, it leveled itself out," she explained.

From Size 22 to Size 8 — But It Came at a Price

Gibson's battle with the scale has been relentless and raw. Over the years, she's bounced between a size 8 and a size 22, watching her body change dramatically — but not always for the better.

In 2016, she slimmed from a size 20 to a size 8 by ditching takeaways and processed meals, replacing them with lean meats, fresh vegetables, and fruit.

But with the physical change came an unexpected emotional void.

"I lost my personality when I lost the weight," she confessed to Closer magazine at the time. "I've always been funny, but I hadn't realised I used to crack jokes about being big. So all of a sudden I just didn't have anything to say."

Though she looked and felt better than she had in years, Gibson admitted the fear of regaining weight never really went away.

"I do things now that would be unthinkable when I was big!" she said. "I do get 'fat fear' and weigh myself every morning as I'm so scared about putting the weight back on."

And while critics called the habit unhealthy, Gibson was unapologetic. "People say it’s unhealthy, but it keeps me on track," she declared.

From Big Brother to the Big Time

Gibson's story of transformation began long before the gym videos and documentaries. She rose to fame on "Big Brother" in 2010, winning with a record-breaking 77.5 percent of the public vote.

She's since released two fitness DVDs, appeared on "I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!" in 2023, and landed her coveted role on "This Morning," co-hosting alongside the likes of Rylan Clark and Craig Doyle.

Now, at 40, she's embracing her age with the same charm that made her a household name.

"I still feel like I'm 25. Well, my personality says 25, but my body says 55," she joked last October. "My life has just got better and better, so I try to embrace each year because I feel so lucky. I see ageing as a privilege."