Nick Frost reveals heartbreaking reason behind food addiction after losing 200lbs

Nick Frost has opened up about his 200lbs weight loss, sharing how he came to realise he was 'using food as an addiction'.

The Shaun of the Dead star, 54, appeared on the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast, where they touched on his relationship with food, and the impact that it's had on his career.

"Food has probably been the longest addiction in my life. I was addicted to food as a child, it was a way of getting myself out of the horrible home life as a child, so I used to eat secretly," he said.

After speaking about the shooting schedule for the Harry Potter series on HBO, involving a lot of early mornings, Frost said he had lost 'like 200lbs' when the host asked him about his weight loss, stunning Rosenbaum.

Nick Frost opened up about his weight loss (Mike Marsland/WireImage)

Asked whether he could have done the role if he was '200lbs heavier', Frost replied: "I don't know, I'm not sure I would have got it."

The actor went on to open up about his weight loss, including admitting and coming to understand that he had an addiction to food, and figuring out how to be kinder to himself.

"I'm never not gonna have a bit of cake or a digestive, that doesn't work for me," he said. "But what I can't do is take the whole cake and then get in the car and drive down by the river at night time with the lights off, and just eat the whole thing."

Frost shared how he came to realise he was 'using food as an addiction', adding: "A couple of years ago I'm like, I'm not doing any of these things anymore, but what I am doing is I'm lying to my family, and I'm going to buy 10 candy bars, and secretly eating that.

"Once I realised I'm using food as an addiction, I've just transferred what my primary was from XYZ to this, and I was like of course."

The Hot Fuzz star revealed that this realisation had made things easier for him.

The actor said he had lost 'like 200lbs' (Lia Toby/Variety via Getty Images)

"It became really, not easy, it's been two three years hard graft, but lowering my expectations of myself in terms of, 'I'm gonna have a digestive' and not beat myself up about it, but also be really honest in terms of 'I shouldn't have eaten that', or saying 'I did this', you know? It became a bit easier," he said.

Frost previously addressed controversy about his choosing to take a role in the upcoming Harry Potter project due to JK Rowling's views on transgender people, which have seen the cast of the original films distance themselves from her.

The actor said he had switched off the comments on his social media after receiving heavy criticism for taking the part.

Speaking about the topic, Frost told The Observer: "She’s allowed her opinion and I’m allowed mine, they just don’t align in any way, shape or form."

Asked whether this controversy eclipses the show, he said: "But maybe it shouldn’t blow over? We shouldn’t just hope it will go away, because it makes it easier. Maybe we should educate ourselves."

If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article and would like to speak with someone in confidence, call the BEAT Eating Disorders helpline on 0808 801 0677. Helplines are open 3pm-8pm Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can try the one-to-one webchat.