Neil 'Razor' Ruddock was given a stern warning about his weight earlier this year.
The former Liverpool defender was told that he has to start losing pounds during a TV appearance that left him and his wife concerned about his condition.
He returns to the popular TV screen on Monday night when he competes in Celebrity Masterchef.
Earlier this year, Ruddock took part in the popular ITV series 'Harry's Heroes', where a host of former England footballers were challenged to get fit in order to face off in a match against German football legends.
But there was special concern for Ruddock, who began the programme weighing in at a staggering 23 stone.
On the show, Ruddock was sent to see a heart specialist, who gave him a worrying assessment of his health at the time.
Dr Enam Abood told him: “Your good cholesterol is weak and your bad cholesterol is higher than it should be.
"Given your lifestyle and your family history, we’ve really got to do something quite drastic about that – and I’m talking about medication to protect you.
“If I don’t intervene, you are at a risk of having a heart attack and a stroke.
“Razor, you cannot afford to take this lightly please.”
Ruddock's wife, Leah Newman, was left shocked by the verdict and said: “She basically said he could drop dead at any minute and I’d be on my own with the children. So it’s hit home, what we need to do – and we’ll do it.”
As a result, Ruddock responded by taking part in an extensive fitness programme - and cut his weight down by four stone.
He spoke about his fitness achievement in the documentary, claiming: “Men are scared to get bad news.
“Both my older brothers have got problems. One’s got a stent. It is in my family.
“You think it’ll never happen to you, but it can. I’m happy I’ve seen the doctor.
“It can be resolved, so I’m happy we got there in time.”
Speaking weeks after the documentary finished, Razor told The Morning: "I think the show brought awareness to mental and physical health.
"I knew I had a bad knee anyway but I didn’t know what was happening inside. I am the joker of the pack and you think it is not going to happen to you but I went to see a doctor in Harley Street and it was a wakeup call really.”
