Gary Lineker’s strict ‘one meal a day’ diet that has helped him keep in shape at 64

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: 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.

The former Leicester City striker had vowed to present the BBC football programme in his undies if the club won the Premier League title, which they did against the odds. Broadcaster Gary Lineker is to step down as host of flagship football programme Match of the Day at the end of this season, BBC News understands. It is expected to be announced officially on Tuesday by the BBC. The Sun, who first reported the story, external, also said the presenter would leave the BBC after leading coverage of the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico. The BBC press office declined to comment. The Premier League season ends in May 2025. The news comes after Lineker entered negotiations with the BBC over a new contract in October. Lineker told Esquire magazine in August, in an interview published this month, that he accepts he will "have to slow down at some point". The broadcaster has hosted the BBC's flagship football show Match of the Day since 1999. The 63-year-old is one of the corporation's best-known presenters and its highest-paid star, of those whose salaries are declared, earning more than £1.3m a year. Lineker has also presented coverage of major tournaments like World Cups and European Championships for the BBC, as well as BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremonies. He has worked for other sports networks during his time at the BBC, including US network NBC and BT Sport (now TNT Sport), and branched out into podcasts. However, the former footballer has also been involved in controversy at the corporation because of his social media activity. He was briefly suspended by BBC bosses last year after an outcry over a post about the UK's asylum policy. Before becoming a TV presenter, Lineker had a hugely successful career as a striker for England as well as Leicester, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona — Gary Lineker follows an intense workout regime too -Credit:BBC

“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.

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.

Gary Lineker will step down from hosting Match of the Day at the end of this season — Lineker has revealed his unique diet -Credit:Tom Dulat/Getty Images for Premier League

“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