A Place in the Sun star shows off 'incredible' weight loss after health diagnosis

A Place in the Sun's Craig Rowe has wowed his fans with an astonishing fitness transformation, earning plaudits for his dedication.

The 53-year-old TV presenter took to Instagram to share a before-and-after glimpse of his physique, opening up about the health scare that spurred him into action.

Craig disclosed that he was diagnosed as pre-diabetic in his 40s, which led him to implement "big changes" in his lifestyle.

His efforts paid off, allowing him to reverse the pre-diabetic diagnosis and lower his risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The NHS suggests that those who are pre-diabetic can mitigate their risk by adopting lifestyle modifications to decrease blood sugar levels, reports Lancs Live.

Craig posted shirtless photos taken six months apart, captioning them: "This is me... after making some big changes."

He continued, "In my 40s, I found out I was prediabetic and yes, I managed to reverse the diagnosis, but my blood sugar remained very high.

"So 6 months ago I decided to really push myself to get it under control and feel healthier."

He expressed hope that his journey would inspire others in their middle age, acknowledging the need for discipline and commitment but emphasising the rewards.

"If you're in your 40s or 50s I really hope my story will motivate you. Yes, it takes discipline. Yes, it takes commitment and it's so worth it."

Craig also shared snippets of his gym workouts and healthy cooking routines.

"My mantra now is to look after yourself and your blood sugar," he said.

His motivational post received a flood of positive reactions, including praise from Loose Women star Ruth Langsford, who cheered him on with a supportive: "Go Craig!!!"

Celebs and fans alike have been showering Craig with accolades after his impressive transformation; celebrity makeup artist Sarah Jane Froom gushed, "OMG you look incredible xxx."

Saira Khan echoed the sentiment with a "Wow! You look amazing," while Alexandra Burke added her praise, commenting: "You look amazing darling."

Admirers haven't held back their encouragement either, as one fan expressed, "Amazing! And gorgeous in both before and after, my dear Craigey xx," followed by another who stated, "Fantastic! You should be so damn proud of yourself."

One follower, inspired by Craig's journey, shared, "Absolutely incredible Craig and very inspiring. I'm a little older (moved into my 60s) and diagnosed as prediabetic. I'm starting a new regime to reverse that and lose 8kg. You are amazing. Thank you for sharing."

Craig, who is also an ambassador for Diabetes UK, joined A Place in the Sun in 2022, and has also appeared on QVC, as a voice over artist, and as a gadget guru on ITV's This Morning.

Earlier this year, he revealed he was in talks to appear on the next season of Strictly Come Dancing, telling The Sun: "My agent is talking to all the reality shows and there's definitely been a little bit of a rumble that I felt from some of them.

"We've spoken to Strictly and nothing's happened yet, but talks are very much happening.

"Obviously, Strictly is the one that is gold standard. And also, I love dancing - and now I'm fitter.

"I'd like nothing better than the training as well to put me through my paces."

A Place In The Sun is available to watch on Channel 4.