Cricket star and TV presenter Rewandrew “Freddie” Flintoff has thanked fans for his support in a new documentary after his career began a long struggle with bulimia.
In Freddie Flintoff: Living with Bilimiya, which aired on Monday, the former England captain said he suffered from an eating disorder because he was embarrassed by the press in Britain at the start of his international career.
The top 9-year-old star, who now hosts Top Gear and appears as captain of the team in the comedy panel show A League Their F-Orn, first talked about having bubble lemia in 2014, but never sought help on the issue until the show’s shooting. Was not.
Flintoff poses with his teammates during the 2005 Ashes
Posting a message on Twitter after the show aired, he said: “Thanks for the wonderful response to tonight’s doc, hopefully we’ve helped raise awareness on such an important topic.”
The influence of bulimia on Flintoff’s life was explored in a BBC One documentary, and why eating disorders are often hidden and such stigma especially for men.
The star said his struggle with illness had been ahead of his playing career, and he had made himself ill after eating only as recently as the last 12 months.
After meetings with fellow diet disorder sufferers and medical professionals, he also said he realized that his international athletic career could be affected by Bolimia, which ended in 2009 when he was 31 years old.
“I never even thought about it, but then it affects everything, doesn’t it?” Flintoff said. “Your joints, your bones – so maybe.”
Flintoff enjoyed a hugely successful international career, most notably helping England win their first Ashes in 18 years in 2005, before helping him regain his footing four years later.
The star is now a TV presenter and captain of the team at Sky One’s A League Their F Their F or Panel Show
However, speaking of the 2005 victory, he said he was making himself ill at the time.
“The first test of that series, I was sick,” he said.
“Everyone talks about how good you’re doing, and a part of you thinks ‘it works, let’s crack with it’.”
After learning how dangerous the situation can be, Flintoff said he was thinking of seeking professional help to move forward.
“I don’t want to be statistical,” he said. “I don’t want to read in the years to come, something that has happened to me.”
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Flintoff is not the first male star to open up about eating disorders in recent years.
In September 2019, Actor Christopher Ecclestone has revealed that he suffers from anorexia nervosa. While shooting a scientific series and describing himself as a “lifelong body-hatter”.
Following the documentary, viewers praised Flintoff on social media, one thanking him for “revealing your feelings with such honesty”, while the other said: “I hope this will help you and others to open up and get help about your feelings. , I think this documentary will help open up other men. Good Fred. “