LOUISE REDKNAPP discovered the dangers of crash dieting when she slimmed down to size zero in 30 days for an ITV1 documentary.
The sexy star, 32, dropped two dress sizes to US size zero (UK size 4) by fasting and enrolling in a punishing fitness boot camp as an experiment for The Truth About Size Zero.
Louise, who was left feeling ill, tired and unable to sleep by the gruelling regime said: “I completely underestimated how hard it would be.”
She was also was reduced to tears when she came face to face with the health dangers of size zero when she met anorexia sufferers at the Rhodes Farm Clinic, North London which treats victims of eating disorders.
Explaining why she embarked on a mission to become stick thin, she said: “I grew up in the entertainment industry. I’ve always felt even at a size 8 that I’ve never been quite skinny enough.
“There was always the pressure that if I could have lost half a stone it would have been better.
“It’s such a lot of pressure on a young woman and if I was feeling that, I know a lot of other young women were also feeling that”
For the programme, Louise visited her old stage school the Italia Conti Academy of theatre Arts to warn pupils about the horrors of crash dieting.
The mum of one, who is wed to ex-footballer Jamie Redknapp, added: “If every woman who wants to become really skinny could just spend 30 minutes with a doctor telling them what’s going to happen to them, I think you’d get very few of them carrying on with it.”
Also featured in the programme are Louise’s pal actress Denise Van Outen who was told to lose weight when she moved to Los Angeles and ex-Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm who was dubbed “Sumo Spice” when she resorted to binge eating.
Nutritionist Dr Adam Carey who monitored Louise during filming and warned her about the dangers of crash dieting, commented: “The current vogue is macabre. I think it’s obscene and it’s very unhealthy.”
Two months on from her size zero diet Louise has put the weight back on, regained her curves and returned to a size eight.
The Truth About Size Zero, ITV1, March 7, 9pm
The Sun Online - TV: Louise's size zero warning