Understand
Former England cricketer Ashley Giles opens up about his struggles with obesity after retirement
Overview
Former England spin bowler Ashley Giles has shared his experiences with obesity, revealing that his weight reached around 20 stone (127kg) after he retired from professional cricket. Giles discussed the challenges of transitioning from an elite sporting lifestyle with managed nutrition and high activity levels to a desk job, the stigma and insensitive comments he faced, and the connection between weight struggles and mental health. He hopes speaking out will encourage others to talk more openly and seek support.
Key points
- Former England cricketer Ashley Giles revealed his weight reached approximately 20 stone (127kg) following his retirement.
- Giles explained that weight gain crept up on him over time as he normalised buying larger clothes and hid his appearance.
- He highlighted the stark transition from being an active professional sportsman managed by nutritionists to working a desk job, which drastically reduced his calorie expenditure.
- Giles reported experiencing insensitive comments from members of the public about his weight gain.
- He believes men often bottle up issues regarding obesity and hopes sharing his story will encourage open conversations and seeking help.