Claire Richards poses naked to show weight gain as she goes from size 10 to 16Closer magazine

It was only three months ago in March that Claire Richards showed off her size 10 figure for Closer magazine after losing five stone.

Now the ex-Steps singer has admitted to going up three dress sizes in the space of three months and now takes a dress size 16.

Claire, who is 5ft 7 tall, reached a weight of 10 stone 4lbs in March through a combination of dieting, running and kickboxing.

However she told Closer magazine she now weighed 12 stone and was a dress size 16.

She revealed: "There's always been a part of me that feels food is my addiction. I've never smoked or taken drugs, but in the past eating has been a compulsion."

Claire explained: "I felt like after all the weight-loss features I'd done, I owed it to people to be honest about this. My husband [electrician Reece Hill, 41] also encouraged me to do the shoot so I could see how lovely I am – and I'm trying to believe him!"

Claire Richards poses naked to show weight gain as she goes from size 10 to 16Closer magazine

"I'm obviously disappointed that I've put weight back on and I'd be lying if I said I was more comfortable being a size 16, but I've got to stop beating myself up. For me, staying thin is like a full-time job, and I'd rather spend that time looking after my kids and focusing on my career."

Claire, who is appearing in the new series of Popstar To Opera Star, said: "I might not be a size 10, but I don't think I look that bad – I certainly don't think I'm hideous like I used to."

"I'm having fun with fashion again too, as my curves fit quite well into high street clothes. But I'm determined not to get bigger than a size 16 as I still feel fit and anything heavier would feel a bit much for me."

"I just want people to remember that I did lose weight – and you can do it too," she added.

"But, personally, keeping it off is where I really struggle. I was having to think about food and my weight every moment of the day to stay a size 10, and that's no way to live – it's too much like hard work."