John Whaite has spoken candidly about his use of anabolic steroids for the first time in an emotional video, urging people to “think twice.”
Whaite rose to fame on The Great British Bake Off and has since appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and various daytime shows. In a video shared on Instagram on Monday (17 November), he said he was speaking up about his use of steroids “for accountability, for integrity, but also because I think this is a problem that is increasingly prevalent, especially in gay culture.” He added it was also an issue for non-queer people too.
“I’ve been taking anabolic steroids, illegally, for five years now, and these things have really, really messed with my life.”
He explained he started using steroids in cycles, but for the last two years had been using them continuously. The baker first started taking them during the Covid-19 lockdowns. He said, “As somebody who’s got body dysmorphia, and bulimia, I looked in the mirror, and I hated what I saw.”
Whaite has previously discussed his struggles with body dysmorphia and bulimia, noting in 2021 that these issues began in his teens. He stated that steroid use led to some “aesthetically very good results,” though it also increased his visibility and attention.