The 32-year-old would engage in binge eating and purging behaviours, commonly associated with bulimia nervosa, which is a type of eating disorder where people go through periods of eating a lot of food in a short space of time and then making themselves sick.
‘I found myself doing what Elton [John] talks about in his book — gorging, and then it would come up again.
‘There’s certain things that, as a man talking about them, I feel mad uncomfortable.
‘It’s good to be honest… because so many [men] do the same thing and hide it,’ he told Rolling Stone in March.
During a recent appearance on CBS Sunday Morning, Ed spoke about the fears he has after being so open: ‘I just don’t want to turn into the poster boy for it, you know?’
However, he once again reiterated that he’s aware of the positive impact: ‘What is important about speaking about it is letting people know that it is not a problem that is just for one gender.’
When the presenter Seth Doane probed: ‘You’re talking about bulimia?’, Ed clarified: ‘Yeah.’
Ed’s honesty will help people, says eating disorder charity Beat.
The organisation’s Director of External Affairs, Tom Quinn said: ‘Sadly there is still a stigma surrounding men who experience disordered eating, which can make it more difficult for men to recognise symptoms in themselves and reach out for help.
‘It takes a lot of courage to speak out about an eating disorder as Ed has done.’
The positive repercussions of a male global superstar being upfront about their struggles cannot be underestimated.
‘Whenever anyone speaks it helps to combat the stigma that exists around these serious mental illnesses, especially for men and boys, as it’s often mistakenly assumed that eating disorders only affect women.
‘Whenever men in the public eye share their experiences, it really helps to reinforce that eating disorders aren’t something to be ashamed of, and anyone affected deserves the very best care.
‘We hope that Ed has received the support he needed and we know that his bravery will encourage others to seek help.’
It can be wrongly presumed that only women can be affected, and Beat aim to educate the nation on the reality. The latest statistics show that at any given time, at least 1.25 million people in the UK are struggling with an eating disorder and around 25% of those are male.
‘We estimate that around 300,000 men in the UK have an eating disorder, and our research recently found that half of men affected have never had treatment, and a third have never sought it.
‘We’d like to reassure anyone struggling that support is out there and it’s completely possible to make a full recovery. If you’re worried about yourself or somebody you know, please reach out to your GP as soon as possible.’
What is bulimia?
- Bulimia can affect anyone of any age, gender, ethnicity or background.
- People with bulimia are caught in a cycle of eating large quantities of food (called bingeing), and then trying to compensate for that overeating by vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics, fasting, or exercising excessively (called purging).
- Making a full recovery is possible, but it’s important to get help at the very earliest opportunity.
As eating disorders are mental illnesses, the first signs are often behavioural or psychological, rather than physical. Symptoms of bulimia can include:
- Either frequently checking body shape or weight or avoiding looking at their body or checking their weight.
- Comparing their body with those of others.
- Eating large amounts of food (bingeing).
- Purging after bingeing by vomiting, over-exercising, using laxatives or diuretics, or fasting.
- Spending a lot or most of their time thinking about food.
- Feeling anxious and tense, especially around meal times or when eating in front of others.
If you suspect you, a family member or friend has an eating disorder, you can contact Beat on 0808 801 0677 or at [email protected], for information and advice on the best way to get appropriate treatment
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