A young rugby star beat the bullies to go from 24st schoolboy to beefcake bodybuilder with a huge army of fans.
Fireman Aaron Harlow-Stephenson, 21, plays for rugby league side Gateshead Storm after overcoming his addiction to 'secret' binge eating.
He has spoken out about his tortured teenage years to help others who struggle to lose weight.
Now a superfit muscle man, he has 84,500 Instagram followers as he gives tips on diet and exercise.
But as a tortured teenager, he became a miserable 'recluse', stashing crisps, chocolate and ready meals all over his Durham home.
He did not want to go out at week-ends and in the evenings, played video games to escape the cruel taunts of bullies in the 'real' world.
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He turned his life around when he started to play rugby for Sunderland RAFC – he plays both union and league – after leaving school.
With a tough new fitness regime and strict diet, he lost an incredible 10st, dropping to 14st as he discovered weight training.
He slowly transformed his physique through his job as a fireman and his daily five-hour workouts to become a competitive bodybuilder.
"I was 147 kilos – more than 23st – at 16. I had a massive problem with eating in private," he said.
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"I was a secret eater. I used to hide food all around the house. So it would be in cupboards, drawers, my computer bag, even DVD boxes. I could not fit under the table for lunch at school, I was so fat.
I was taunted about my size, about my clothing, about 'covering up my baby' as I tried to hide my stomach.
"Bullying meant that I just kept on eating and eating. I would sit in my room playing computer games for days on end because I hated school. I did not want to step outside the house, I would speak to people on-line playing games. I was so big that I was out of breath walking to my bedroom, I was also really unhappy."
One day, as he passed a group at college, and a bully shouted: ' How many cakes have you eaten today?'.
Aaron was so ashamed that he vowed to change. "That was memorable, a turning point," he added. "I started rugby, and starved myself. I lost 4lbs in two weeks, I chewed on ice to lose weight.
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I got massive headaches, it killed me, the withdrawal from sugar and salt. But I got rid of my computer, I faced the real world."
Now he has a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates to compliment his training regime. His bodybuilding photos have won him tens of thousands of followers.
"I want to raise awareness to show that you can change," said Aaron, a 6ft 1in, 20-stone giant after his tough early years at Durham Johnston Comprehensive School, and the city's New College.
"Before Facebook and Instagram, there was nothing for lads with eating disorders. It is massively taboo for men, they are forgotten. That needs to change, and I help anyone who gets in touch."
He receives messages from as far afield as India, USA and Europe, and gives tips on training. His biggest fans are mum Louise, 45, managing director of a print firm, dad Alf, 47, who also works for the company, and brothers Will, 15, Harry, 10, and stepbrother Ryan, 23.
"You do need mind over matter, discipline,desire," said Aaron, now training to be an ambulance clinical care assistant.
"If I can do it, anyone can."
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