Gary Barlow reportedly takes his meals alone while he is working on the X Factor, so that he can stick to his strict diet.

The Take That singer once saw his weight balloon to 17 stone, when he left the boyband and his solo career went down the tubes and he has talked on many occasions about his constant battle against the bulge.

The dad of three has enlisted the help of a dietitian and personal chef and it has been revealed that he won’t eat with the other judges when working on the ITV show, in case he is tempted to sample some of their food.

Gary brings ready prepared meals to the audition venues, which have been provided by his cook and refuses to sit in the canteen which Simon Cowell regularly used when he was on the show.

It means that while Louis Walsh and Tulisa bond, Barlow is off in his dressing room, nibbling his salad alone.

A source told The Sun:

“It’s fair to say he is obsessive about his food and will do whatever it takes to avoid temptation. He has even requested he sit away from the other judges when they eat so he is not distracted from his vegetables and lean protein meals. Simon thinks it’s hilarious.”

On last year’s series of The X Factor Gary got involved in assisting his contestants with their fitness and weight issues. He put Craig Colton on a special diet and took his male hopefuls jogging on many occasions, to help them improve their lifestyle.

Gary favours a low carb diet and speaking about the food which his mentor recommended to him last year, Marcus Collins explained:

‘Gary’s given us a healthy eating plan. It is smoothies for breakfast and slow-releasing energy, so snacking on almonds and healthy things instead of eating sweets.’

It’s certainly working for Gary. We’ve never seen him looking so buff!