Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach’s weight loss transformation

A former NRL star has opened up about his weight loss journey, revealing he has struggled with his health since his sporting career ended.

Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach was one of the toughest men on the field during his time in the NRL, earning himself a reputation as a superstar.

But when the curtains closed on his professional sporting career in the early 1990s, he came up against a massive problem in the form of his ever-increasing weight.

No matter what he did, those stubborn extra kilos remained, until this year he decided enough was enough – he needed to get healthier for his four granddaughters.

The 61-year-old told news.com.au he has been able to shed some of the excess weight – about 8kg – in recent months after seeking help from an online men’s health service called Pilot.

Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach is trying to fight for men to look at their health differently. Picture: Anthony Weate. Rugby League A/CT

He said having a support system instead of struggling on his own has made all the difference.

“I have been trying to consistently walk every day, more mindful of my alcohol and sugar intake. I feel like that I have a lot more energy and I’m happier,” he said.

“I’ve set realistic goals with the help of the program and I’m starting to feel more confident in achieving them and consistent with my efforts.”

He said he encourages other men to seek support when it comes to their own weight loss journeys.

“I want to encourage big blokes to not give up,” Roach said.

“For men out there who can’t seem to kick that extra weight, it might be a case of needing to combine prescription medication and the help of extra support services to kick off the weight loss.

“There are answers and support out there you just have to take the first steps.”

Roach is holding the amount of weight he's lost in oranges. Picture: Supplied

The sports star is sharing his story as, in his experience, many men have a “she’ll be right” attitude when it comes to weight loss.

Research from Pilot, which offers men’s health treatments online, showed that 49 per cent of Australian men give up on their weigh loss goals all together.

On top of this, just 24 per cent of men are willing to seek professional help when it comes to losing weight – with the biggest reason men between the age of 35 to 44 bite the bullet to drop some weight is due to a health scare.

Dr Ramy Bishay, a specialist endocrinologist and Pilot spokesperson, said: “It’s often that men know they are overweight, but the ‘she’ll be right’ attitude about how they are going to lose it deters them from seeking help when it comes to weight management.

“What men may not realise is that there are biological barriers that may work against them when it comes to weight loss, which is where medical professionals can help.”

Originally published as Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach’s weight loss transformation