Freddie Flintoff’s documentary, Living with Bulimia, shocked viewers with his raw and honest account of eating disorders.
The Top Gear presenter spoke candidly about how being balmy has affected his life, the shame of being ‘proud’ of food purification, and now even harder to accept the grip he has on himself.
Inspired by his weight-loss comments during his time as a cricketer, Freddie was motivated to continue to throw away food when he deserved praise for his weight loss.
He explained: ‘Everyone was happy with me. I was losing weight.
‘It was like this: “I’m doing this boss.” It continued, and I was always doing it. ‘
However, the adverse effects soon began to seep in, and he finally admitted that he hid his activities from those around him, including team members and family members, before telling his wife.
Freddie, who learned about bulimia as a whole, was shocked to learn that it was undefined because he was ill and that other factors were involved, including excessive exercise to burn the calories he ate.
Following a heart attack, he later spoke to young Lawrence’s family. He died of a heart attack.
Freddie also spoke to those who are currently recovering, and the difficulty he faced in talking about it because he was a man.
Hailing as one of the ‘Most Important Documentaries of the Year’, the audience immediately sent love to keep him strong as he admitted that he felt he had eternal balimia.
Statistics claim that approximately 1.5 million people in the UK currently suffer from eating disorders.
25% of them are men – but eating disorders are still considered a ‘girl’ and until recently men’s mental health did not receive attention.
Beat
If you suspect that you or a family member or friend has a eating disorder, please contact 0808 801 0677 or help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk for information and advice on the best way to seek appropriate treatment.
As a result, men like Freddie are often ashamed to come forward with their own struggles, or refuse to accept them.
But when people like Freddie talk, more men are willing to talk openly about the relationship between food and image.
This includes Connor Spratt, who revealed to MetroCo that he used exercise to lose weight.
Freddie Flintoff: Living with Balimia is now available on BBC iPlayer.
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