A REAL sporting hero

Freddie leads the way in a brave new documentary about battling bulimia

- Dawn Neesom

Former cricketer turned Top Gear presenter, Freddie Flintoff, is possibly the ultimate definition of an alpha male. Tall, muscular, fit and pure bloke in everything he does. For 20 years though he’s battled against something that most men would struggle to admit. Bulimia.

Every eating disorder is hellish, but unlike anorexia – where sufferers refuse to eat – bulimia is easier to hide. Bingeing food in private and vomiting, taking laxatives or exercising excessively after eating often means sufferers appear healthy. But on the inside, they’re in the grip of an insidious, evil disease.

In a BBC documentary, Freddie, 42, admits his problem started when he joined the England cricket team and struggled to keep his weight down.