Cricketer, Andrew Flintoff MBE, will look at the causes and impact of bulimia on his life in a new BBC One documentary.
In 2001, when he was called up to the England squad, Flintoff said that he felt pressure to keep his weight down, following scrutiny from fans, the media and teammates. He said that this quickly evolved into full-blown bulimia.
He explained that he’s battled with the condition throughout his career, and he hasn’t fully dealt with it to this day:
“If this resonates with one person watching, or through this we can show someone that there is help out there, then this is worth doing.”
Freddie Flintoff On Bulimia (w/t), is a 1×60 documentary, which will also investigate why eating disorders in general are so hidden in men.
“I would like to thank Freddie for opening up about his struggle with bulimia in this very personal film for BBC One. I hope this film will raise awareness about a subject that is all too often a taboo and make a difference to the way men talk about mental health,” added Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content.
Up to one in four people living with bulimia are men. These numbers have more than doubled in the last decade – but it is estimated that only 10% seek professional help for this devastating illness.
The show is made by South Shore, the Executive Producers are Andrew Mackenzie and Melanie Leach, and the Producer/Director is Leo Burley.
