Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood previously revealed that he came close to dying during a lengthy health battle.
The judge, 59, opened up about his 25-year struggle with eating disorder anorexia during an interview earlier this year.
Strictly star Craig Revel Horwood on eating disorder
Speaking to the Daily Record, long-standing Strictly judge Craig revealed that he’d battled with anorexia for decades.
“When I studied myself in the mirror every morning and night, anything that wasn’t muscle I saw as fat. I was terribly insecure about my body and having my supposed flaws judged by others,” he said.
I was never happy with what I saw.
“I disgusted myself and I also felt guilty about my behaviour. I was never happy with what I saw but that is what body dysmorphia and eating disorders do to you,” he then added.
‘I always thought I was fat’
Craig then continued, saying he grew “paranoid” over everything he ate. It got to the stage where he cut protein out of his diet, which left him with low energy. He then said that he basically lived off lettuce for four years, but would go on binges after shows.
“I always thought I was fat, but I was actually truly thin. When I look back, I was 6ft 2in and 11 stone, which is crazy between the ages of 18 and 22,” he said.
The star then added that years of starving himself took its toll on his skin. His immune system went “haywire” and his moods took low turns.
He credited switching from dancing to choreography as what helped him to get better. He then added that he “would have come close to dying” if he hadn’t made the change.
‘I still battle with my food demons’
Craig previously opened up about his health struggles in an article in the Daily Mail. Back in 2009, he explained that his issues with food started when he was a teenager.
He said: “I’ve battled food issues since my late teens. I was quite chubby, so when I started dancing professionally I had to work hard to stay slim. This led to a lifelong struggle with anorexia and body dysmorphia.”
Craig concluded: “I still battle with my food demons, but I’m much better at keeping them under control.”
Strictly continues tonight (Saturday, November 16) at 6.45pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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