James Argent said doctors had sent him to an eating disorder unit during his first rehab stint in 2014.
The former The Only Way Is Essex star - who has been struggling with binge-eating for years - went to rehab to treat his drug addiction.
Over the pandemic, he reached 27 stone and underwent gastric sleeve surgery to control his weight.
He has since lost 14 stone and has been exercising and eating healthier. James first found out about his eating disorder during the first rehab visit.
"When I actually went to rehab for the first time, I went there initially for my problems with drink and drugs or whatever, and after a few days I got put in the eating disorder unit," he explained.
Speaking to MailOnline, the star added: "They tried to teach me to do mindful eating instead of shoving it down, put your phone away, relax, chew your food plenty of times, let the meal last 20 minutes, don't rush your food so that's what I'm trying to do now."
During the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, James was binge-eating fast food and drinking a lot of fizzy drinks.
Doctors told the TV personality he had to 'lose weight or die' which caused Arg to turn his life around.
He then lost a lot of weight thanks to the fitted gastric sleeve and has been focusing on reaching a weight he's 'content' with.
Previously speaking about needing to gain weight, the reality star told The Sun : "This is the first time in my life that I like the way I look too - I don’t feel ugly anymore - I’m content and happy with my appearance.
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"The only problem now is I’ve lost a little bit too much weight and I need to put on half a stone,” he added.
"Everyone thinks it’s hilarious, we didn’t think we’d ever be in this situation but it’s one thing or another with me - that’s just me!”
Before his gastric sleeve operation, he opened up about how he was feeling and why he chose the surgery.
He said at the time: "I don’t want to die. An op is the only way I can lose weight."
"Before my big operation in April, which was the best thing I've ever done, I would substitute booze and drugs for food - but now my portion control is managed due to the gastric sleeve, I can’t turn to food anymore."
In February, the TV personality confessed he experienced a relapse after suffering a 'blip' that saw him break two years of sobriety during a night out with friends.
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