Music icon Elvis Presley was once renowned as an international heartthrob, but a close confidante has revealed his depression led him to balloon to nearly "400 pounds" in the two years before his death in 1977. According to his bodyguard Ted Pryor, The King would constantly binge eat for hours and down fizzy drinks. He remmebered he would gorge on massive steaks and mashed potatoes, enough for four regular sized meals, before and after shows. Martial arts expert Ted remembered how his boss "ate himself to death" burdened by the trauma of his split from wife Priscilla and financial ruin following betrayal by his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Ted, who served as his protector for the last two years of his life until 1977, said: "Elvis was a constant eater and even though he got heavy, he didn't know when he was full. He thought he was enjoying food but he was miserable. He was indulging amid the boredom of life. Elvis was just unhappy and the only thing that made him happy was when he ate. And overeating becomes an addiction just like drugs." In an exclusive chat with the Mirror US , the former undefeated WKA Super Middle Weight World Champion said that an intervention was not possible. Ted said: "He just didn't care anymore. He could have managed it, but he just didn't want to. "Elvis was eating everything - chocolates, cakes, you name it, but he ate in massive quantities. He did not touch alcohol. I hate to criticise him, but tactfully I have to say he was out of control." He continued, "A normal person's portion of steak and baked potatoes, he would eat four of them. He was close to 400 pounds and had no self control. Hotel room service and backstage catering was all free." The bodyguard also spoke about how the overeating was playing havoc on his body, saying he was "sweaty" and had to take pills to get up and go to bed. He said: "He was taking prescription pills but I say, overeating was a bigger problem than the drugs. There were times I worried he would eat a big meal, pop a pill and just never wake up." Ted, who worked with a team covering The King around the clock, considered trying to help his boss. He said: "Back then we were given direct boundaries. He was Elvis - and you don't tell the King what to do, even if it could help him." Ted recounted how Elvis' performances suffered as his weight ballooned, saying this it "killed his performances" and he was no longer singing how the world knew him to. Despite being inducted into the Karate Hall of Fame and having a stint in Florida law enforcement, Ted ended up smuggling marijuana across the US. After being arrested and imprisoned, Ted now is a devoted philanthropist having founded Children of America in 1997, an educational childcare provider. Ted's book called "Three-Time World Champ: The Death-Defying True Story of a Kickboxer Turned Drug Smuggler . . . Turned Business Icon.," is out now.