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John Prescott says he suffered from eating disorder bulimia

20/04/2008

Former deputy prime minister John Prescott has revealed that he suffered from the eating disorder bulimia during his years in politics.

The MP whose book is being serialised by the Sunday Times said the illness was a result of the stress of his job which led him to seek comfort food. He added that the disorder led to him overeating and then forcing himself to vomit.

Writing in the paper, the Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull East said he hadn't revealed that he was suffering from the illness as he had been embarrassed of the condition. He stated that the disease was usually associated with "models, anorexic girls" or women in "stressful situations like Princess Diana", but never with large men.

In the excerpt published in the newspaper, he said he may have contracted the illness due to the "enormously long days" he was working.

"Once I got into the shadow cabinet, trying to produce pamphlets and documents, stuck in an office, hour after hour, the only break I ever took was to eat. That's all I did. Work, and then quickly eat something. It became my main pleasure, having access to my comfort food.

"So what I did was stuff my face with anything around, any old rubbish: burgers, chocolate, crisps, fish and chips, loads of it, till I felt sick - but at least I'd had the pleasure of stuffing my face and feeling really full. Then there would be a weird kind of pleasure in vomiting and feeling relieved."

The politician, who is notorious for punching a protester and having an affair with his secretary, said he often binged on condensed milk, Marks and Spencer trifles and food at his favourite Chinese restaurant.

However, he added that he felt "ashamed" at his eating habits and soon started to hide food in the office and to eat from the fridge without telling his wife, Pauline.

He wrote: "I was ashamed of this gorging, this greed, and pretended I wasn't doing it.

"At home, I would say, 'No thanks,' to Pauline when she offered seconds, but behind her back, I'd raid the kitchen or the fridge. Same at the office. I became a secret eater, hiding food and snacks, then trying to eat them when no one could see me."

Mr Prescott, who also suffers from diabetes and has worked on spreading awareness of the disease, said that he now seeks to help women who suffer from eating disorders such as bulimia.