Wednesday August 5, 2009

John Travolta’s friends are worried the Hollywood star is eating himself into an early grave.

The actor has piled on the pounds following the death of his 16-year-old son Jett earlier this year, leaving Travolta’s pals fearing for his life.

“He’s been seeking comfort in food since Jett died, and now he’s s out of shape, his friends and family fear he could be eating himself into an early grave,” a source close to Travolta told American tabloid the National Enquirer. “The heavier he gets, the more strain he puts on his heart, lungs and joints. It can lead to deadly high blood pressure — and it could put him at risk for diabetes and all those other ailments obese people can get.”

Travolta, 55, now tips the scales at an estimated 250, the Enquirer reports.

“John’s about 6-feet-2 and he’s said his best weight was around 190 pounds,” the source adds. “But it looks like he’s packed on at least another 50 or 60 pounds.

“His weight has gone up and down dramatically over the years. He was just 165 pounds when he made Grease in 1978 and 211 for Primary Colors.

“He tends to pack on the pounds between movies and has done a lot of yo-yo dieting over the years. That’s very hard on your heart and your overall health.”

Travolta’s wife, Kelly Preston, is said to be worried about her husband’s eating habits.

“Kelly’s worried sick about John and the lack of care he’s given himself,” said the insider. “She’s trying her best to get him outside himself and his own grief.

“The healing process has been incredibly hard for the whole family.

“Kelly’s trying to set an example for John that while their sorrow may never fully fade away, they still have a lot to live for.”

Tags: john travolta