Big Brother icon Nadia Almada reveals she has lost SIX stone and four dress sizes after doctors warned her life was at risk when she reached 17st

Big Brother winner Nadia Almada has revealed she has lost six stone and four dress sizes after having a gastric sleeve fitted.

The reality star, 47, was crowned series five champion in 2004 and made history as the first ever transgender contestant to star in the Channel 4 programme.

And now, 20 years after her win, Nadia has revealed she has slimmed down 17st 6lb to 11st 8lb after doctors warned her life was in danger.

In a candid chat with New Magazine, Nadia revealed she’s gone from a size 20 to a size 12 and feels better than ever.

The reality star said she was warned she was at greater risk of serious heart problems or a stroke because of the excess weight she carried.

And now, 20 years after her win, Nadia has revealed she has slimmed down from 17lbs to 11lbs after doctors warned her life was in danger

The reality star, 47, was crowned series five champion in 2004 and made history as the first ever transgender contestant to play the lead role (pictured in 2004 on Big Brother)

But now Nadia says she feels better than ever and is happy with her new start.

Nadia explained, “I was a full-fledged carbarian. It was so bad that I ate two large pizzas with three sides in one evening – and that was meant for a family of four. It’s crazy.’

She continued: ‘I was a size 20 and a shadow of my former self. I had no stamina, no energy, no vitality – and there was a greater risk of serious heart problems or stroke from the weight I was carrying.’

The TV star also joked that she couldn’t wear heels because of the swelling in her feet, but now feels like she’s had a “new beginning.”

She said: ‘It’s a new start, a new beginning. I feel more slim, but it’s not just the physical side, I’m also happy that I’ve been able to undo a lot of the damage I’ve done to my body.’

She revealed that her cholesterol and thyroid levels had dropped over the past three months, describing the operation as life-saving and admitting that she now has much more energy.

Nadia also explained that after surgery she struggled to adapt to her emotional eating needs rather than what her body actually needed.

Explaining how she’s adjusted her life and eating habits, she said she now uses side plates instead of the large bowls of the past to help her portion control, but admitted it took some adjustment.

Nadia explained, “I was a full-fledged carbarian. It was so bad that I ate two large pizzas with three sides in one evening – and that was meant for a family of four. It’s crazy’ (pictured with Davina McCall in 2004)

Nadia admitted she had been warned she was at greater risk of serious heart problems or a stroke because of the excess weight she carried

Nadia explained that she used to hide under kaftans and stopped wearing jeans because she felt like she looked like Mr Potato Head, but she is much happier in her new size 12 body (pictured in 2005)

She went on to say that she initially watched mukbang videos, where people were binge eating, to feel like she was eating what she saw.

But now she has gotten used to her new life and loves it and is taking more time to enjoy the food she eats, instead of passively munching in front of the TV.

And while the star wasn’t focused on slimming down for any particular item of clothing, she did say she stopped buying new clothes after gaining weight.

Nadia revealed that she hid herself and wore only kaftans in an attempt to cover up.

She added that she stopped buying jeans after going over a size 14 after describing her appearance as Mr Potato Head.

She said: ‘My fat used to be visceral fat, hidden around my organs, so I had skinny legs, a huge belly and no bum. In jeans I looked like Mr. Potato Head.”

And the star is clearly over the moon about her weight loss journey.

Nadia recently took to Instagram to reveal her slimmed-down frame in a black swimsuit.

It comes after the star issued a heartbreaking apology to her younger self for ‘fat-shaming’ and ‘objectifying’ her appearance during an appearance on Loose Women in August.

It comes after the star issued a heartbreaking apology to her younger self for ‘fat-shaming’ and ‘objectifying’ her appearance during an appearance on Loose Women in August (pictured on This Morning February 2023)

In 2004, the Portuguese hairdresser was showered with praise for representing the transgender community.

And during the interview, the ITV show showed some footage of Nadia from her time on Big Brother and the star appeared to get choked up as they flashed across the screen.

She fought back tears as she said, “When I look at those photos, I have to apologize to her for fat shaming her, for objectifying her, for mistreating her.

“Somehow I compartmentalized that young lady because she wasn’t your standard.

‘Now I’m really talking to me. I’m sorry I did this to Nadia, because it was a special moment and I had to put her in the attic or basement.

Reflecting, Nadia continued, “It comes from maturity and experience. Twenty years later, I have to embrace another power within me. I embrace it and it makes me feel better.”