‘Strictly Come Dancing’ star John Whaite discusses battle with bulimia
Strictly Come Dancing’s John Whaite recently, opened up about his struggles with bulimia stating that he is in a much better place now.
In a recent interview with Attitude, the British TV star, who is part of the first male same-sex pairing on Strictly Come Dancing with professional dancer Johannes Radebe, discussed his disorder and the struggles he has faced with his body image since childhood.
“Well, I always wanted to be skinny,” he told Attitude. “I grew up with two sisters and a mum who were always on SlimFast, always on Weight Watchers, always on the Atkins. So, from the age of 12, I was on the Atkins diet. I used to cut carbs out, which for a growing boy, a child, was a very dangerous thing.”
“I am bulimic, you know, I still struggle with that,” he continued. “Even though I go through moments of – not strength, because that’s implying that bulimia isn’t strength, but I go through moments where it doesn’t affect me. [But] every single day is a battle with an eating disorder because it takes over how you see yourself in the morning, it takes over how many times you feel you should go to the gym, what you can or can’t eat. I purposely have certain foods that I’ve restricted still.”
He went on to discuss the criticism he faced from other gay men who called him “Muscle Mary” when he began gaining muscle.
“Since I’ve started working out more, the amount of gay people I’ve had saying to me, ‘You’ve just become a Muscle Mary’”, he said. “One guy said to me, ‘Oh, what a shame you’ve become another gay white gym bunny.’ I’ve always been gay, I always have been white as well, and I’ve always been interested in the gym, but I’ve just started paying more attention to the nutrition,” he said. “I’m not saying that I’m the perfect figure, [that] if anyone’s chunky or too skinny, it’s bad.”
He went on to discuss that many people make these comments not realizing what he’s been through, stating that he’s now making choices that make him happy after years of struggling with his weight.
“I’m doing this because I’ve battled with an eating disorder for 14, 15 years and I’ve finally come to a position where I’m happy being bigger,” he explained. “These choices are for me, they’re not for anybody else. Twink Bake Off John is who people want me to be now, but I’m not, I’m a different person, it’s 10 years on. I’ve been to the gym and changed my shape, so what?”
John Whaite has been making waves on social media for being part of the first same-sex dnace couple on Britain’s Strictly come Dancing, and doing very well in the competition. His dances have been the topic of much praise and criticism in the media since he made his appearance on this season of the popular TV show.
Hopefully, John’s openness to discuss his struggles will open up a bigger conversation about men who struggle with eating disorders and body image.
