Dr Alex shared the heart-breaking story in a bid to raise awareness (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Love Island star Dr Alex George has opened up about a heart-breaking incident in which he was body-shamed by strangers while working in a hospital.

The mental health ambassador, 32, shared the incident in a bid to raise awareness about eating disorders.

Alongside a selfie wearing scrubs and a face mask, the former reality star wrote: ‘I’m going to tell you a story, that I never intended to share, but I believe is important in raising awareness.

‘A few years ago, I was queuing in the cafe to get my lunch when two women came up to me. “Alright Dr Alex” was quickly followed by the other squeezing my tummy and saying, “You’ve put on a lot of weight since Love Island!!”

‘They walked off laughing.’

Alex wrote that the incident, which took place in front of other people in a queue in the canteen left him feeling ‘mortified and ashamed’.

He continued: ‘I felt so disgusted with myself that I left the queue and not only didn’t eat for the rest of the shift, but nothing for the rest of the day or the next.

‘This was followed by binge eating for several days. It really hurt.

‘I felt ashamed to go to work in scrubs. Interestingly, no one would have known the affect it had on me. As for many others, that was dealt with silently.’

He added: ‘I’m not sharing this story to ‘make this about me’, I have come a long way in my relationship with my body aside from a few hangups which we all have.

‘I wanted to tell you this story because words hurt, and they can stay with you for a long time. They can be tipping points for ED’s or trigger relapse.

‘That was a few years ago and I can still hear their laughter. It was cruel.’

Dr Alex appeared on Love Island back in 2019 (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

He urged followers to ‘be kind’, and said he had shared the difficult story to raise a reminder of men’s struggles with body image.

‘Please be kind to others, we all make mistakes but do think before you speak, or type. What is a moment on your lips could be a lifetime in their heads.’

He concluded: ‘Just to finish by saying, I really was hesitant to share this story, even as I’m about to hit share I have my doubts. I forgive those people and I love my body and everything it allows me to do. I just hope this will resonate with others and raise awareness. Let’s look after each other, shall we 💙’.

He’s now a mental health ambassador (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX)

This isn’t the first time Alex has spoken about body shaming, having previously shut down cruel trolls with a confident shirtless snap and an empowering selfie.

He began his caption by powerfully stating: ‘MOVEMENT IS FOR EVERY BODY 👊’

Alex continued: ‘Fat shaming and weight stigma can be such a barrier to exercise. Over the years I have felt embarrassed and nervous to train in the gym when I’m bigger. I AM NOT ASHAMED ANYMORE.’

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Encouraging his followers to take pride in their bodies and to be brave, he added: ‘Don’t forget that you deserve to be in that gym as much as anyone else. If people judge you for how you look that says far more about them than you. I know who I would rather be friends with 💙’

After rising to fame in the villa, Alex returned to his job as an A&E doctor and, after suffering personal tragedy when his younger brother, Llyr George, took his own life following a mental health struggle, Alex become a mental health campaigner.

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Dr Alex shared the heart-breaking story in a bid to raise awareness.