TOWIE star Harry Derbidge has revealed that he has suffered from an eating disorder for several years and lived off just one can of Coke a day at the height of his illness.
The reality star said that his condition was sparked by being a fussy eater as a child and he only sought help after his mother threatened to check him into a clinic.
“It wasn’t until 18 months ago [that I realised I was ill] when my mum was so concerned for me about my weight,” he said.
“My mum would send me to the doctor and the doctor would say to me, ‘If you continue losing weight we’re going to have to send you into a clinic’. That was when I was waking up, not having anything for breakfast, nothing for lunch, nothing for dinner and just having a can of coke. That was probably my lowest because food was never a priority for me.”
The 20-year-old told Channel 5 News that he “feels so much better now” but is still battling his food phobias.
“If I pick something on the menu that I know I’m going to be touching and having all these flavours and the look of something I don’t like, then I just won’t eat it and it’ll be a waste.
“That’s why I’ll go to a restaurant and I’ll always order something like plain boiled pasta with just a little bit of chicken in it and then a tiny bit of cheese on top. Completely plain but I know I’ll eat it. I’m still so fussy today but I have to work around what I eat.”
