Men Have Eating Disorders Too, And Zayn Malik Is Proof
Singer Zayn Malik has gone on the record about how anxiety and the pressures of fame kept him from eating, particularly when touring with One Direction.
In his new autobiography, Zayn, he wrote, “When I look back at the images of myself from around November 2014, before the final tour, I can see how ill I was. Something I’ve never talked about in public before, but which I have come to terms with since leaving the band, is that I was suffering from an eating disorder.”
In an interview before Tuesday’s book launch, the singer said that during his tours with One Direction he was “losing track of, you know, actually eating, and being super busy and getting caught up with other things that 17- or 18-year-olds do, which normally entails them going out, drinking or partying.”
“I realized that I wasn’t eating as much just down to the amount of work that we were doing … our schedule was kind of crazy so we were all over the place,” he said.
The 23-year-old also wrote about how his anxiety caused him to cancel shows, according to an excerpt posted in Time. “I just couldn’t go through with it,” he explains. “Mentally, the anxiety had won. Physically, I knew I couldn’t function. I would have to pull out.”
Malik’s admission that he’s struggled with food issues, as well as anxiety, opens up a conversation about the stigma of men and mental health issues — in particular, eating disorders.
“The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) applauds Zayn Malik for courageously coming forward about his struggles with an eating disorder,” Claire Mysko, National Eating Disorders Association CEO, told Yahoo Beauty. “There are still so many myths surrounding eating disorders in men, but the truth is that men and boys can and do suffer from these life-threatening illnesses.”
NEDA reports that eating disorders are widely considered a “women’s issue.” As such, some men may feel uncomfortable seeking help for a disorder — or may not even know that they have one in the first place. However, men are affected by eating disorders more often than people realize, Mysko says.
“An estimated 10 million men will have an eating disorder at some time in their life, but many don’t get the help they need because of the dangerous misconception that only young women are affected,” she says.
And while it may have been painful for Malik to speak about his struggle and recovery, it’s important to speak out, as studies suggest that the risk of mortality for males with eating disorders is higher than it is for females, possibly due to less acceptance of the issue.
“A star like Zayn coming forward can shed light on the reality that anyone, regardless of gender, can suffer from an eating disorder and encourage those struggling to seek the help they need,” Mysko says. “NEDA is glad to hear that Zayn is now feeling great and is grateful to him for sharing his story.”
If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, call the National Eating Disorders Association Helpline at 1-800-931-2237.
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