Freddie Flintoff’s documentary, Living with Bulimia, has devastated audiences with his raw and honest account of the game star’s eating disorder.
The top gear presenter spoke honestly about how being a bulimic has affected his life, including the shame of being proud to clean up the food, and even harder to admit to the grip he now has on himself.
Freddie, who was provoked by comments about his weight during his time as a cricketer, continued to throw away his diet when he began to appreciate his weight loss.
He explained: ‘Everyone was happy with me. My weight was declining.
‘It’s like: “I’m the boss of this.” It continued, and I was always doing it. ‘
However, the negative effects soon began to catch on, and he finally admitted to hiding his actions from those around him, including team members and family members, before telling his wife.
Upon learning of bulimia as a whole, Freddie was shocked to find that it was not defined by being sick and that there were other components, including excessive exercise, to burn the calories he ate.
At the heartbreaking moment, he later spoke with young Lawrence’s family members, who died of a heart attack and his body went out years later as a bulimic.
Freddie also spoke to the rescuers now, and the difficulty he encountered in talking about it as a human being.
Hailing as one of the ‘Most Important Documentaries of the Year’, the audience soon acknowledged that it felt like Bulimia was there, and the audience quickly kept the love strong.
Statistics show that about 1.5 million people in the UK currently have an eating disorder.
Of them, 25% are men – but eating disorders are still considered a ‘female thing’ and have not attracted much attention to men’s mental health in recent years.
Ft
If you suspect that a family member or friend may have an eating disorder, please contact Beat 0808 801 0677 or [email protected] for information and advice on the best way to get appropriate treatment.
As a result, men like Freddie are often ashamed to come forward with their own struggles, or refuse to support them.
But as people like Freddie say, more and more men are now ready to open up about their relationship with food and figure.
This includes Connor Spratt, who revealed to Metro.co that he used exercise in an attempt to reduce his weight.
Freddie Flintoff: Living with Bulimia is now available on BBC iPlayer.
Got a story?
If you have a popular story, video or pictures please contact Metro.co.uk Entertainment Group. Ask yourself.
Also: Like Freddie Flintoff, I’m a bully
Also: Top Gear’s Freddie Flintoff and Bedi McKinnys keep dangerous fights a secret from their wives
window.fbApi = (function () {
var fbApiInit = false; var awaitingReady = [];
var notifyQ = function () { var i = 0, l = awaitingReady.length; for (i = 0; i < l; i++) { awaitingReady[i](); } }; var ready = function (cb) { if (fbApiInit) { cb(); } else { awaitingReady.push(cb); } }; var checkLoaded = function () { return fbApiInit; }; window.fbAsyncInit = function () { FB.init({ appId: '176908729004638', xfbml: true, version: 'v2.10' }); fbApiInit = true; notifyQ(); }; return { 'ready' : ready, 'loaded' : checkLoaded }; })(); (function () { function injectFBSDK() { if ( window.fbApi && window.fbApi.loaded() ) return; var d = document, s="script", id = 'facebook-jssdk'; var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) { return; } js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.async = true; js.src = "https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); } /** * Only load fb sdk if we have GDPR consent or CMP is not required */ (window.requireConsent || Promise.resolve()).then(function(hasConsent) { if (hasConsent) { if ('object' === typeof metro) { window.addEventListener('metro:scroll', injectFBSDK, {once: true}); } else { window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', injectFBSDK, {once: true}); } } }); })();
“Alcohol evangelist. Devoted twitter guru. Lifelong coffee expert. Music nerd.”