Gary Barlow has revealed how he became ‘unrecognisable’ after putting on weight following the split of Take That, staying indoors for up to six months at a time. Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, the singer said his weight rose to 109kg (17st 2lbs), making him feel invisible and providing an escape from public scrutiny.
Barlow described a period of binge eating and purging, where he would visit Chinese buffets and then go home to be sick. He admitted this behaviour continued for a couple of years, but noted he eventually found a ‘stop button’ to regain control. The singer, now weighing 12st, made a successful career comeback after losing the weight.
He also spoke movingly about the death of his stillborn daughter Poppy in 2012. Barlow and his wife Dawn decided to include the experience in his autobiography, A Better Me, hoping it would help others who feel misunderstood. He said people often say ‘you’ve got three other kids’, which only deepens the pain.
Reflecting on the changing attitudes towards men’s mental health, Barlow praised the fact that men can now openly discuss their problems, a shift he described as ‘a good thing’. He recalled how, after Take That split, journalists’ cruelty affected him deeply, with every negative word bothering him.
