Love Island star Jack Fincham has revealed that he has battled the eating disorder bulimia for almost 20 years – and his health may have been damaged for good as a result
Jack Fincham has revealed he has secretly battled bulimia for the past twenty years and has been left requiring medication to combat damage done to his body. The 34-year-old reality star shot to fame on Love Island in 2018 as a contestant during the fourth season of the long-running dating show.
While Jack appeared confident on the show – and ultimately won alongside then-girlfriend Dani Dyer – he was still battling the eating disorder. Since his Love Island days, Jack has become better known for his sporting career as aa professional boxer.
However, he has acknowledged that the sport is part of the reason he became obsessed with food and keeping himself in shape. In a new interview, the TV star has explained that he was just 14 when his relationship with food took a dangerous turn.
He explained that the eating disorder took hold when he first started out as a boxer as he needed to reach a specific fighting weight. The star has struggled to break free from the condition in the years since.
Opening up to The Sun on Sunday, the reality star revealed: “I have been a bulimic for 19 years, bingeing on food and then being sick.” He then went on to explain there have been times where he binged on McDonald’s, salt- and-vinegar crisps, sweets, pizzas, pastys, sausage rolls, steak slices and more.
Saying he was left feeling “ashamed” every time he would binge, he also made himself sick. He said: “I’d eat it all, then go to the downstairs toilet at my mum’s — because nobody could hear me, as it was in the hall, next to the front door. I know it’s gross, but for years I didn’t actually think I had a problem.”
It wasn’t just food that he would focus on in his attempts to be a certain weight in time for boxing matches, he would also take hot baths and sit in saunas to reduce his weight. He explained there would be times he would go for as many as five days a week without eating – and on other times he would chew food to gain the taste, but spit out the food without swallowing.
Recounting getting down to just 52kg (114lbs, or 8.1st), he said: “It was a tough time for me. I’d just discovered my dad wasn’t in fact my biological father, and I think that screwed with my head. And I wanted to be good at boxing. Before an evening match I’d go to school and not eat or drink a thing so that I’d be ready for the weigh-in. I could lose 1.5kg in a day doing that. I was just a kid.”
He went on to explain he would also use food to “punish” himself, bingeing and making himself sick on days he lost matches. The experience has left him with a health condition he fears could be with him for life.
Jack revealed: “Eventually it caught up with me because I started to get really bad reflux. I was in agony. I went to the doctor and told him everything. I am now taking tablets to deal with the acid in my throat. I’m in agony without daily medication. I could be on them for ever, I don’t know.”
In the extensive interview, Jack reflected on other recent issues – which have included drugs battles and was in court due to being the owner of a dangerous dog. He also opened up about the collapse of his relationship with Towie’s Chloe Brockett.
The pair have been together on and off for five years, and he is unsure if their current split will be permanent – admitting he is still in love with her.
Eating Disorders : For help and support on eating disorders contact Beat Eating Disorders on 0808 801 0677.
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