The shock rise of women secretly battling eating disorders
● one in five adult women admit They’ve struggled with anorexia or bulimia ● charity reveals calls from middle-aged sufferers have risen for past eight years ● seven in 10 women with eating issues live in fear of friends and family finding out
Singer Mel C revealed last month that she was a functioning anorexic at the height of her Spice Girls fame. The 43-year-old explained that she didn’t feel like she deserved her celebrity status and began “not eating properly and exercising obsessively” to make herself feel worthy. But surprisingly, the star managed to complete gruelling tours while secretly battling her eating disorder. She said: “To be a popstar I had to be perfect, and that was my way of trying to achieve perfection.” While eating disorders are largely perceived to be the domain of teenage girls, recent research has shown there are many adult women suffering too, with eating disorder charity Beat recently revealing that calls from middleaged sufferers have risen steadily for past eight yeast.
In fact, an exclusive Closer poll carried out by mobile app Onepulse reveals that a shocking one in five adult women admit to having secretly struggled with issues such as anorexia and bulimia. Meanwhile, a study found that seven in 10 women with eating issues live in fear of friends and family finding out.
A spokesperson for Beat explains: “People don’t expect grown women to have a disorder, so it’s easier to hide.
“The danger is it could go undetected until serious damage is done. Eating disorders are easier to treat the earlier they’re caught. There are many life changes such as divorce and bereavement that can act as triggers.
“There is nothing for women to feel ashamed about – it’s a complex mental health disorder, and the key is to get help as soon as possible.”