Jamie Laing reveals secret bulimia battle he ‘suffered in silence’ for years before having a ‘wake-up call’ when he was caught being sick by wife Sophie Habboo

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Jamie Laing has publicly shared that he’s struggled with bulimia, explaining he hid it for years because he felt ashamed.

The 36-year-old TV star admitted he previously thought this condition only impacted women. He only realized he had a problem himself when his wife, Sophie Habboo, caught him being sick.

In his new book, *Boys Don’t Cry*, he decided to share his personal experience with an eating disorder. He noticed men often have a hard time discussing their mental health and tend to keep their struggles private, and he hoped his story would encourage more open conversations about these issues.

Jamie shared his personal story with Fearne Cotton on her Happy Place podcast, revealing for the first time that he had struggled with an eating disorder.

He remembered first noticing problems with his health around age 18, after a knee injury ended his hopes of playing professional rugby.

He explained that he was always active and athletic, and naturally quite slim. He used to eat a lot, though, because he was trying to gain weight for rugby.

After I hurt my knee and couldn’t play sports anymore, I think I developed anxiety without even realizing it. I started eating more as a way to feel better.

The celebrity shared that a key moment happened during a vacation. He remembered, ‘It was before everyone had camera phones, so I used a disposable camera when I went away.’

I used to take pictures, and my mum would comment that I looked a little bulky, saying I was eating too much. She meant well, but I just brushed it off at the time.

I remember when I got the photos back from the developers, I found a picture of myself on the beach without a shirt. I didn’t like how I looked – I appeared bulky rather than toned, and definitely didn’t have the defined abs I was used to seeing. I immediately felt embarrassed.

He continued, explaining that something changed for him when he was around 18 or 19. He started paying attention to his diet, swapping things like regular Coca-Cola for Diet Coke, and choosing reduced-fat hummus and rice cakes instead of crisps. It was the beginning of him actively dieting.

‘And I started becoming thinner. I became so conscious of my weight, which I’d never done before.’

Looking back, it’s heartbreaking to realize how much harder things got for Jamie when he first appeared on Made In Chelsea at 23. He’s talked about how, during that time, food became the only thing he felt he could actually control – it was his way of coping, but it just made everything worse.

He explained that after joining Made In Chelsea, the editing process took away his sense of control. He became very aware of his appearance due to negative comments on social media, and as a result, began to obsess over his diet as a way to regain some control in his life.

After talking with others who’ve struggled with eating disorders, I’ve realized I went through it too. This is the first time I’m actually admitting that.

I remember my twenties being really tough. There were times I struggled with eating, and it all stemmed from feeling like I needed to control *something* in my life. It was something I kept completely hidden from everyone, a really private battle.

He shared that he found it impossible to discuss his difficulties with his male friends, because he believed eating disorders were not something men experienced.

Jamie realized he had a problem when his wife, Sophie, who is 31 and expecting their first child, pointed it out to him. It was a real turning point for him.

He explained that Sophie had discovered a secret he was keeping, and in that moment, he understood everything that was happening.

She asked me what I was up to, and I told her I wasn’t doing anything. She didn’t believe me, saying she’d heard me feeling unwell.

She reassured me, saying she was truly sorry for whatever I was going through and that she was available to listen whenever I needed to talk.

I suddenly understood what was going on. It felt like I was watching myself from outside my body at first, and then it quickly became a real, physical experience.

He explained that when Sophie said those things, it was a real turning point. He suddenly realized he was hurting himself and questioned why he was even continuing. It was a major moment of clarity.

He then watched Freddie Flintoff’s new documentary. In it, Jack Whitehall, a friend of Jamie’s, shared that he had struggled with bulimia when he began his television career. He said Freddie’s honesty about his own eating disorder encouraged him to speak up about his experiences.

Jamie explained that sharing his experiences helped him understand how important it is for men to open up. He noted that while women often discuss body positivity, men rarely do.

Many people feel pressure to achieve a certain physically fit appearance – like having visible abs and being able to lift a lot of weight – to be considered attractive. But not everyone is able to reach those standards, and it can be really embarrassing to struggle with that, so we often keep those feelings to ourselves.

There’s absolutely no way I’d discuss this with my male friends. Seriously, not a chance. I might be able to talk to my mom or sister about it, but I definitely wouldn’t share it with guys.

It’s so weird, I can open up about, like, everything – my anxiety, my problems, anything at all. But *this*… this is different. It feels so embarrassing, I don’t know why, but I’m just really ashamed to even talk about it. It’s like a secret I don’t want anyone to know.

I was so ashamed of what was happening that I could barely tell my therapist about it – I actually had to cover my eyes while I spoke.

From a male perspective, I think guys often make excuses and pretend not to understand what’s going on—whether it’s in their relationships, with their friends, or even with themselves—and they tell themselves it’s not a big deal.

Men often don’t talk about difficult feelings like loneliness, anxiety, body image issues, or fear of failure. I wrote this book to start a conversation and encourage everyone to feel comfortable discussing these things.

Jamie shared that the news of becoming a father inspired him to be open and honest in his book. He explained, ‘I wrote it so my child will know they can talk about anything.’

Jamie has publicly discussed his struggles with mental health, sharing that he experienced his first panic attack at age 20. He was so frightened he went to the hospital, believing his life was in danger.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain last October for World Mental Health Day, he explained what a panic attack feels like, saying it’s like feeling you’re about to die. He even thought he was having a heart attack.

I struggled with anxiety for a long time, starting with a panic attack when I was twenty. I didn’t understand what was happening and went to the hospital, but after that, I kept it to myself for years.

It feels like you’re losing control, with a rush of adrenaline making it hard to breathe. Your chest feels constricted, and you might feel lightheaded or like you’re going to pass out.

I ended up in the hospital, and they diagnosed me with a panic attack, telling me to go home and relax. That day marked a turning point in my life. I was experiencing anxiety, but I didn’t recognize it, understand what it was, or feel comfortable talking about it.

Jamie explained his delay in discussing his anxiety by saying he felt embarrassed about it at the time. He didn’t understand what was happening and simply hoped it would disappear.

Jamie explained that it had been there for years, but he finally dealt with it after talking to a close friend, Toby – who was also his best man. He eventually gave Toby a call.

I became really upset during a phone call and told Toby, “Something isn’t right with me.” I was anxious about his reaction, but he reassured me, saying, “Don’t worry, Jamie, we’ll get through this together.” That supportive response meant so much to me.

It suddenly dawned on me that I’d kept this bottled up for years, and I wondered why I hadn’t said anything sooner.

If this story has been upsetting, BEAT Eating Disorders offers support. You can reach them by phone at 0808 801 0677 or by email at help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk.

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2025-10-20 14:21