Getting fat made everyone make a huge assumption about me – after losing 3.7st I feel reborn, says Chantelle Houghton

CHANTELLE Houghton has revealed strangers congratulated her on being pregnant - because of her overweight belly.

The Big Brother legend crept up to over 13st while in a "dark place" last year.

And to make matters worse, so many people would assume she was expecting a baby that Chantelle would often play along with the idea.

Now in an exclusive interview with The Sun, the 39-year-old says she feels "reborn" after shedding three and a half stone.

"I'd been in such a bad place for such a very long time. My weight was creeping up and up and I was getting so many people congratulate me on my pregnancy that didn't exist.

"I've always had trouble with weight on my tummy, so I understood people thinking I was pregnant because I saw it myself. I did look pregnant.

It was happening so much, I couldn't bear the embarrassment of myself and seeing the other person feeling terrible. I ended up just going along with it.

"i think people need to be a bit more sensitive when they ask. If you have any doubt at all, don't say it.

"I remember a lady in Marks and Spencer who was serving me said, 'Oh when's your baby due?' I said I don't know and looked at me like she was really confused.

"Anyone who said congratulations to me, I'd just reply saying 'oh thanks so much'.

"I ended up looking at baby clothes with someone whose daughter was pregnant and I'd bumped into her in the shop. It was just easier to go along with it than argue.

"Now I'm back to my size ten clothes. It feels like such an achievement. I feel so good, I really do."

During lockdown, Chantelle started binging on takeaways to avoid supermarket shopping.

She quickly noticed her weight shooting up on the scales while her mental health plummeted.