Monica Seles
Tennis player Monica Seles was stabbed during a freak incident in 1993, and suffered from a disorder afterwards: “After my stabbing I took two and a half years away from the sport. In that period I gained about 20 pounds. The No. 1 comment I heard was, “She is so much bigger than she used to be.” Shortly after that my father died of stomach cancer. I gained another 15 or 20 pounds on top of that and found myself about 37 pounds heavier. I tried to hire nutritionists and trainers. I had trainers travel with me so I wouldn’t eat. I turned to food for comfort. Food became my best friend. When emotionally I got down, depressed and had anxiety, I found comfort in food. I got every single diet book out there. Every New Year I would make my New Year’s resolution. “I’ll lose my 30 pounds. I’ll be a stronger tennis player, a happier person.” I would lose the weight and I would gain the weight. I knew it was unhealthy what I was doing to myself.”
Lily Allen
Singer Lily Allen says she used to vomit up her meals to make sure she stayed thin: “I used to vomit after meals. It’s not something I’m proud of. But, I tell you what, a lot of people came up to me telling me how great I looked and I’d be on the cover of every magazine. I thought I looked good and it was great to be able to try on clothes and feel a million dollars. But I wasn’t happy, I really wasn’t. I would love to be the skinniest person in the world but I can’t do that without being unhappy – I like food.”
Demi Lovato
Disney star Demi Lovato checked herself for rehab where she found out she had an eating disorder: “There have been times when I definitely have been tempted to get rid of my dinner, but I will deal with it for the rest of my life because it’s a life-long disease. I don’t think there’s going to be a day when I don’t think about food or my body, but I’m living with it, and I wish I could tell young girls to find their safe place and stay with it.” She advises girls to stay by close friends to avoid anything bad happening: “If you are going through that dark period, go to your family and closest friends, don’t put yourself in danger. It’s very crucial that you get your feelings out — but don’t ever inflict harm on your own body because your body is so sacred. I wish I could tell every young girl with an eating disorder, or who has harmed herself in any way, that she’s worthy of life and that her life has meaning. You can overcome and get through anything.”
