Post by shayne on Jun 18, 2006 14:41:08 GMT 8
From the Irish Independent:
Chart-flop rocker McFadden is now top of the pot-bellies
YO-YO dieter Brian McFadden has piled on the pounds once again as his pop career hangs in the balance.
The former Westlife singer has become noticeably more burly in the past month or so and friends say he is comfort eating in response to his chart failure.
McFadden's bulkier frame was obvious at a charity football game last week, where he showed off a newly re-acquired double chin and a pot belly.
His appearance was vastly different to that of last year, when he lost so much weight that he became hollow-cheeked and gaunt.
Friends believe that dismal record sales and the threat of being dropped by his record company, Sony, has led him to comfort eat.
A pal said: "He's only put on weight in the last few weeks and we reckon it's because things aren't going wellfor him career-wise. He tries his best, but nothing seemsto work and it's very disheartening."
Dietician Aveen Bannon blamed the faddy Atkins diet for Brian regaining weight. "Fad diets like these work very well initially," she explained. "But as soon as you come off them, the pounds pile back on."
She said Brian is also probably comfort eating, suffering from what dieticians call a "hug in a wrapper" syndrome.
"Many people whose weight fluctuates eat in response to emotional issues. Some lose their appetite, others overeat to try and comfort themselves," she said.
It's not known how Brian's girlfriend Delta Goodrem feels about his rounder new look. But his weight fluctuation never bothered former wife Kerry.
Kerry's Irish publicistJoanne Byrne said: "Brian's weight went up and down and it never bothered her when they were together. She loved him when he was fat, she loved him when he was thin."
Ms Byrne added that she saw Brian a short while ago and said: "He doesn't look as gaunt as he once did."
This time last year, he was showing off his new super-slim physique, claiming he had lost stones in weight thanks to the Atkins diet.
In fact, he became so drastically skinny that friends and family became concerned that he had gone too far.
Brian has often spoke about his battle with the bulge, describing how he was bullied as a child for being overweight.
"The abuse I got in school was unbelievable," he said. "I got all the usual taunts, like being called 'Fatso'. I know what overweight people feel like."
It didn't help that he was known as "the pudgy one" in Westlife during the band's career and always looked a bit too big for their matching outfits. Married life saw him gain more weight - perhaps in response to the dinners of "fish and chips with lots of bread and butter" that wife Kerry said was their favourite meal.
When he quit the band last year, he went on an extreme diet that saw him drop almost three stone. He ditched his boyband image and took on a more rugged rock-star look.
Industry sources claim that Sony, Brian's record company, is preparing to drop him due to lagging sales.
His last single Demons, failed to make a dent in the charts and his album Irish Son has been a flop. His tour of the UK and Ireland has suffered due to lack of interest, with even concert dates in Dublin, Cork and Belfast next month have been slow to sell.
Chart-flop rocker McFadden is now top of the pot-bellies
YO-YO dieter Brian McFadden has piled on the pounds once again as his pop career hangs in the balance.
The former Westlife singer has become noticeably more burly in the past month or so and friends say he is comfort eating in response to his chart failure.
McFadden's bulkier frame was obvious at a charity football game last week, where he showed off a newly re-acquired double chin and a pot belly.
His appearance was vastly different to that of last year, when he lost so much weight that he became hollow-cheeked and gaunt.
Friends believe that dismal record sales and the threat of being dropped by his record company, Sony, has led him to comfort eat.
A pal said: "He's only put on weight in the last few weeks and we reckon it's because things aren't going wellfor him career-wise. He tries his best, but nothing seemsto work and it's very disheartening."
Dietician Aveen Bannon blamed the faddy Atkins diet for Brian regaining weight. "Fad diets like these work very well initially," she explained. "But as soon as you come off them, the pounds pile back on."
She said Brian is also probably comfort eating, suffering from what dieticians call a "hug in a wrapper" syndrome.
"Many people whose weight fluctuates eat in response to emotional issues. Some lose their appetite, others overeat to try and comfort themselves," she said.
It's not known how Brian's girlfriend Delta Goodrem feels about his rounder new look. But his weight fluctuation never bothered former wife Kerry.
Kerry's Irish publicistJoanne Byrne said: "Brian's weight went up and down and it never bothered her when they were together. She loved him when he was fat, she loved him when he was thin."
Ms Byrne added that she saw Brian a short while ago and said: "He doesn't look as gaunt as he once did."
This time last year, he was showing off his new super-slim physique, claiming he had lost stones in weight thanks to the Atkins diet.
In fact, he became so drastically skinny that friends and family became concerned that he had gone too far.
Brian has often spoke about his battle with the bulge, describing how he was bullied as a child for being overweight.
"The abuse I got in school was unbelievable," he said. "I got all the usual taunts, like being called 'Fatso'. I know what overweight people feel like."
It didn't help that he was known as "the pudgy one" in Westlife during the band's career and always looked a bit too big for their matching outfits. Married life saw him gain more weight - perhaps in response to the dinners of "fish and chips with lots of bread and butter" that wife Kerry said was their favourite meal.
When he quit the band last year, he went on an extreme diet that saw him drop almost three stone. He ditched his boyband image and took on a more rugged rock-star look.
Industry sources claim that Sony, Brian's record company, is preparing to drop him due to lagging sales.
His last single Demons, failed to make a dent in the charts and his album Irish Son has been a flop. His tour of the UK and Ireland has suffered due to lack of interest, with even concert dates in Dublin, Cork and Belfast next month have been slow to sell.