Davina McCall: At 53, I am so much fitter than I was in my 20s

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. At the time, I was quite content with my fitness, but if I was to have done a fitness test at 28, I’m sure I wouldn’t have scored as well as I would now, despite being in my 50s.” During this time, before she became a household name on Big Brother in the Noughties, McCall was shocked to discover she had high cholesterol while undergoing a routine health test, putting her at risk of developing heart disease. “At the time, I considered myself to be a moderately healthy 28-year-old and it never even crossed my mind that I would be at risk of something like that, especially as I always associated high cholesterol as something old people get – not someone in their 20s.” High cholesterol is believed to affect around six in 10 adults in the UK, but despite this, awareness about it is generally low. I never really thought to make the switch to wholemeal, as at the time, I didn’t think it would make much difference to my health.” Now, her diet is much more balanced. “And so I now think about various aspects of my body, such as my bones, my heart, muscle tone, staying strong, and my overall mental health – all things I never really thought too much about when in my 20s – and how best I can nourish them.” Over the years, McCall has spoken openly about her battle and triumph over drug addiction, including a dependency on heroin when she was in her 20s.