Ed Sheeran has admitted that he developed an eating disorder after comparing himself to “every other pop star”.
The 32-year-old singer said he began to struggle with his body image after collaborating with the likes of Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber, who both have “fantastic figures.”
Admitting that he felt ‘crazy and uncomfortable’ talking about his struggles in an interview with Rolling StoneEd explained how he began to ‘gorge’ on food before throwing it up again.
He said: “I’m aware anyway, but you get into an industry where you’re compared to every other pop star.” I was on the One Direction wave, and I was like, “Well, why don’t I have a six pack?”
‘And I was like, ‘Oh, because you love kebabs and you drink beer. Then you do songs with Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes. All these people have fantastic figures. And I always said, “Well, why am I so… fat?”
‘Why am I so… fat?’ Ed Sheeran (pictured in 2022) admitted that he developed an eating disorder after comparing himself to “every other pop star.”
Ed, who shares children Lyra, two, and Jupier, 10 months, with his wife Cherry Seaborn, 30, continued: ‘I have a real eating problem. I am a true compulsive eater. I’m a binge on everything. But now I’m more of a compulsive athlete and a compulsive parent. And work, obviously.
The Bad Habits singer compared his struggles to those of Elton John, who had written in his own autobiography: “He had developed bulimia.”
In 2020, Ed said that he has a “very addictive personality” and confessed that he used to binge on alcohol and junk food for the first time.
The hitmaker spoke candidly about his past and learning to deal with fame in a conversation with an American publisher of self-help books, he reported. Sun.
Although he struggled with his busy touring schedule in the past and went through some ‘dark’ moments, Ed credited Cherry with getting him through it all.
During the very candid interview, Ed revealed that when he was reading Elton John’s autobiography, he could see similarities in their stories.
Giving an example from the book, he said, “He (Elton) would be like, ‘I’d just binge on ice cream and eat four fucking desserts until I threw up,’ and I was like, ‘I’ve done that before’…
I’m covered in tattoos and I don’t do things by halves, so if I’m going to drink, I don’t see the point in having a glass of wine. I would rather have two bottles.
The star praised his wife Cherry for helping him change his lifestyle and start making healthy choices.
Torn: The singer, 32, claimed he began to struggle with his body image after collaborating with the likes of Shawn Mendes (pictured in 2022) and Justin Bieber
Toned: Justin is pictured while performing at the 2022 Sziget Festival in Budapest
She explained that she doesn’t drink too often, so she also stopped drinking alcohol regularly.
Ed, who is worth an estimated £160m, added that Cherry also helps him with his anxiety, once helping him calm down at a cafe in Venice, Italy.
He explained that she told him that no one was looking at them and that they were just ‘older people relaxing, having their coffees’, and within five minutes he was ‘calm’.
Admitting that he has a “very addictive personality”, the Shape Of You singer also discussed how his 180-date X tour was his low point.
Ed toured for 17 months during the 2014 tour and said that not eating right and not seeing much sunlight made things difficult to handle.
He said: ‘And it’s all fun and games at first, then it starts to get sad. So I think it’s probably the lowest I’ve ever been and shot up.
‘I felt, ‘What was the point?’ In a dark way, like, “Why am I here? What’s the point?”
Ed also revealed that he’s gotten into art now that he’s on a break from touring and social media, telling the publication that he’s trying to do 30 paintings in 30 days.
For help with eating disorders, contact the charity Beat on 08088010677 or visit beateatingdisorders.org.uk.
Soulmates: Though he’s struggled with his busy touring schedule in the past and been through some ‘dark’ moments, Ed credits Cherry with helping him get through it all (pictured in 2018)
