Georgia Toffolo's weight loss sparks concerns. Is the 'I'm a Celebrity' diet dangerous?

‘I’m a Celebrity’ star Georgia Toffolo has lost a noticeable amount of weight since entering the jungle [Photo: Instagram/Rex]
‘I’m a Celebrity’ star Georgia Toffolo has lost a noticeable amount of weight since entering the jungle [Photo: Instagram/Rex]

‘Made in Chelsea’ star Georgia Toffolo has been enjoying (read: surviving) the Australian jungle for the past few weeks. But the 22-year-old has sparked concerns over her ‘I’m a Celebrity’ weight loss.

New photos of the star have emerged, showing a notably slimmer figure than when she first entered the jungle.

And reports claim this year’s campmates have lost a total of six stone between them since the 2017 edition started three weeks ago.

Campmates are forced to live on a diet of rice and beans [Photo: Rex]
Campmates are forced to live on a diet of rice and beans [Photo: Rex]

It’s not surprising considering the show’s contestants are expected to live on a diet of primarily rice and beans with the occasional treat.

And no, they don’t get given extra food on the sly as Medic Bob revealed people would be “quite shocked” to see how much the celebs really eat in a day.

He also said that he had been forced to intervene this year and give two exhausted campmates electrolyte drinks and glucose to keep them going.

“You are starting to see a real difference in the likes of Jamie [Lomas] and Amir [Khan]. We estimate all 11 of them combined have shed around six stone,” a source told The Mirror.

“On average, each celebrity loses 11 pounds. Most of this would be put back on within three weeks. It’s a huge diet change, but no one complains as for most of them it is the best detox diet of their life.”

Toff isn’t the only campmate to have lost weight as Rebekah Vardy admits to losing a stone [Photo: Rex]
Toff isn’t the only campmate to have lost weight as Rebekah Vardy admits to losing a stone [Photo: Rex]

Experts have pointed out that losing weight quickly is dangerous for the body. The NHS recommends that no more than one to two pounds is lost each week.

“If you are not eating enough balance, you could have bowel health problems, wound healing problems, your hair might start falling out, you could become anaemic and have low iron,” dietician Geraldine Georgeou told the Daily Mail.

So what happens when you lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time?

Well, it kickstarts your body’s survival mode, allowing it to adapt certain processes to slow down the amount of energy it uses. This means a significant decrease in metabolism (which also means lots of weight yo-yoing).

Gallstones are a common complication of rapid weight loss. The solid pebbles form in your gallbladder due to an imbalance in bile salts and cholesterol from the weight lost. You have a higher risk of getting them if you’re losing three pounds or more a week.

2013 campmate Joey Essex also lost a considerable amount of weight [Photo: Rex]
2013 campmate Joey Essex also lost a considerable amount of weight [Photo: Rex]

Along with potential liver damage, you can also affect the way your muscles – including your heart – work. This is all down to fluids. Much of the weight lost will be water, disrupting the bodily electrolyte balance that muscles depend on.

This year’s evicted ‘I’m a Celebrity’ contestants have already spoken out about their jungle weight loss. Vanessa White admitted to losing a lot of weight but told Lorraine Kelly: “I’ll put it all on next week.” Rebekah Vardy, meanwhile, told The Sun that she lost a stone in the jungle.

In 2013, Joey Essex revealed he had lost over a stone during his three-week jungle stint. “I lost just under a stone and a half, but I’ve been eating ever since I left the jungle. I had three meals before I got to the hotel!” he remarked to Digital Spy.

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