Mukesh Ambani’s son Anant lost more than 100kg thanks to Bollywood star John Abraham’s celebrity trainer Vinod Channa, and a really wild diet – how did he do it?

Oct 7 , 2020

Anant Ambani lost 108kg over just18 months. Photo: @anantambanifc/Instagram

Nita Ambani isn’t the only member of the ultra-rich Ambani family who’s gone on a diet – she also encouraged her youngest son, Anant, to battle obesity with a protein-rich, no-sugar diet and a fitness plan involving 5 to 6 hours of exercise a day

He was fat-shamed and ruthlessly ridiculed for his obesity, but found the courage to dig deep and turn his life around, dropping an astounding 108kg in the process. Although some of the weight has since crept back, Anant Ambani’s rapid lifestyle U-turn remains an inspiration for many.

He isn’t alone in his struggle; the United Nations’ recent State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report revealed that while undernourishment in India has declined, adult obesity is on the rise. But the youngest son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani fought his way from being a statistic to a weight-loss icon. Here’s how he did it.

Help from the experts

Instead of an extravagant birthday party or flashy gifts, Anant had one wish for his 21st birthday: to be fitter and healthier for the big day. With that aim in mind, he hired renowned personal trainer Vinod Channa, who has trained celebrities like John Abraham, Riteish Deshmukh and Ayushmann Khurrana.

Anant has chronic asthma and his medication has reportedly played a role in his weight gain over the years. So Channa researched Anant’s condition to make sure he adhered to medical protocols, developing a plan that enabled Anant to push his limits but remain healthy.

Support from his mum

Anant’s mother, Nita, did not shy away from the topic of her son’s obesity, instead openly admitting that he had to lose weight for the sake of his health. She also decided to lead by example, changing her own diet and fitness habits for her son, losing weight herself in the process, she revealed an in interview with The Times of India.

Whenever he exercised, I did too. If he went for a walk, I would go along. By virtue of being his mother, I lost weight. He was my main motivation and continues to be, as we are still fighting obesity

Nita Ambani

Taking it slow

Channa created a “build-up” programme for Anant, starting with balance training before moving on to low-intensity workouts with high reps. Because of Anant’s size, the cardio element of his workouts was also based on a progression model, starting off with 30-minute to two-hour walks.

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