Former England striker Gary Lineker sticks to a strict ‘one meal a day’ diet, which he credits with keeping him in shape.
Lineker, 64, has hosted BBC’s stalwart Match of the Day for 25 years, but will call time on his duties after the current Premier League season – though he’ll still front the broadcaster’s FA Cup and 2026 World Cup coverage.
Having played professional football until the age of 33, the ex-Tottenham and Barcelona star credits his physique to a controversial One Meal a Day (OMAD) diet, which helps him manage his weight.
READ MORE: BBC Countryfile’s Julia Bradbury swears by ‘double breakfast’ after cancer battle
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READ MORE: Evening Standard in 2023. “Breakfast I don’t eat, and then I’ll either pick in the evening if I’ve had lunch or pick in the daytime, with nuts and fruits.”
However, Lineker’s dietary regime is undertaken alongside “intense exercise” that he admitted helps him stay fit and healthy past the age of 60.

“I work out really hard,” former Three Lions star Lineker continued. “I do at least three sessions in the gym every week, and then I’ll do Pilates as well.”
The theory behind the diet is that as one only eats a single meal per day, they are more likely to consume fewer calories – which usually results in weight loss. Other forms of the diet, including the 16:8 diet, follow a similar theory, with this example allowing one to only eat during an eight-hour window.
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But, despite Lineker’s admission and the fact that other celebrities, including Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay’s Chris Martin, supposedly also follow such a diet, nutritionists have warned against it.

“Eating just one meal per day can be considered an extreme form of intermittent fasting,” nutritionist Abigail Roberts told the Mirror. “Unless the meal contains all the necessary nutrients and calories required by the body, it’s unlikely to be a healthy approach to eating, especially if done over a long period.
“Research has shown that consuming only one meal a day can lead to inadequate nutrient intake, causing deficiencies that may lead to various health problems such as fatigue, weakened immunity, and impaired cognitive function.
“Additionally, eating one meal per day may increase the risk of binge eating during that meal, causing digestive discomfort such as bloating and constipation. Furthermore, some studies suggest that intermittent fasting can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm and negatively affect sleep patterns, which can lead to physical and mental health problems.”
Source: bing.com