Tom Daley Details Struggles With Eating Disorder & Body Dysmorphia

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Please be aware this story discusses eating disorders.

Olympic diver Tom Daley is opening up about the challenges he faced early in his career. He revealed that pressure from outside sources led to an eating disorder and body image issues during the 2011 competition season.

In an interview with Radio Times, the 31-year-old explained that people within British diving began to focus on his appearance, not just his athletic ability. He was told he was overweight.

Confused and upset by the criticism, the gold medalist – who shares two children, 7-year-old Robert “Robbie” Ray and 19-month-old Phoenix Rose, with his husband Dustin Lance Black – said he stopped eating altogether in an attempt to lose weight. Unfortunately, this made his relationship with food even worse.

Tom, a former Olympic diver for Great Britain who retired last August after competing in five Olympic Games, explained that he struggled with his diet. He wasn’t eating enough calories to support his intense training, which led to periods of overeating, and eventually, bulimia. Despite these personal challenges, he continued to compete, even winning a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. He remembers the Olympics being incredibly stressful, especially because it was held in his home country. He felt immense pressure to perform well, knowing he might never have another opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd with his loved ones watching.

He also knew a lot was riding on that historic competition, explaining that funding for British diving depended on him winning a medal. While thrilled with his achievement at the time, Tom felt incredibly isolated, struggling with anxiety and an eating disorder and having no one to confide in. He began to address these issues after meeting Dustin, whom he married in 2017 following a four-year relationship. Tom credits his husband with being a major source of support, noting that unrealistic body expectations are common within the gay community. You can find more celebrities who have shared their mental health journeys by continuing to read.

Rapper Radric Davis, known professionally as Gucci Mane, shared in his 2025 book, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, that he was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He explained that these diagnoses led to a mental health crisis in 2020.

Honestly, after a wake-up call, I realized I needed to take full responsibility for my well-being. I made a firm decision: no more health scares! That meant prioritizing self-care, and I was totally open to whatever it took – therapy, medication, the whole nine yards – to make sure I stayed on track. It’s about proactively taking care of yourself, not just reacting when something goes wrong.

Gucci Mane shared that he hoped being open about his struggles would help others. He also said his children, Ice Davis and Iceland Davis, along with his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir, motivated him to get help when he was going through a difficult time.

He explained that his wife was expecting their son, and he worried about the impact raising a family would have on his mental health. He feared a severe mental health episode he might not recover from, so he proactively began therapy and sought support.

The former star of Gossip Girl recently shared his struggles with body image, explaining that he experienced what he called “body dysmorphia” as a young actor.

In an April 2025 interview with The Guardian, Penn revealed they used to strongly dislike their body and wished they had a different one.

He explained that after his parents’ divorce, and following a period of depression and withdrawal, he began to focus on his appearance. He felt that being seen as more attractive could lead to greater success and make him feel more valued.

Despite the mental struggles, though, Penn credited his ability to persist to his spirituality.

He said that overcoming his disappointment and personal struggles enabled him to return to things with a renewed sense of self.

The Scrubs alum has been vocal about her past difficult relationship with food.

She described her struggles with food, saying, “Some might label it an eating disorder, but it’s just how I’ve lived my life.” In an appearance on The Funny Thing Is podcast, she admitted that food was always her main coping mechanism, and she engaged in extreme behaviors related to it.

She added, “I would over-exercise, and there was a sprinkle of bulimia in there.”

Despite admitting she finds it hard to stick to her diet, she’s also been open about the positive steps she’s making towards a healthier lifestyle.

In 2017, she told Bon Appétit that at age 23, she completely eliminated sugar and alcohol from her diet and began practicing yoga, along with breathing and stretching exercises. She described these lifestyle changes as being more effective than the drug Ritalin.

I’m an actress who struggles with eating and how I see my body, and that’s something I’m actively working on. I’m also focusing on my overall health by prioritizing healthy foods.

The Full House alum reflected on her mental health journey and navigating her battle with depression.

She admitted on her podcast, Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, that it’s really hard to talk about these things, even with those you trust most. She explained that she personally feels she should be able to handle it, and admitting she struggles feels like a weakness.

As someone who’s spent years observing what truly makes people thrive, I’ve always admired those who prioritize their well-being. This Grammy-winning artist is a perfect example! She’s been so honest about how she shields herself from negativity – like simply not engaging with online critics – and generously shares that wisdom with others who might be struggling. It’s a powerful reminder that protecting your energy is key, and it’s amazing when people use their platform to help others do the same.

When asked for mental health advice, she told Vogue that patience is key. She emphasized being kind to yourself and resisting the urge to rush things. She explained that giving things time allows difficult feelings to lessen.

As people adjusted to social distancing to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, the singer of “Firework” opened up about how challenging and stressful times like these can be.

She shared on Twitter that it’s often hard to decide whether the virus itself or the resulting sadness from this new way of life is more difficult to deal with. Katy explained she copes by spending time in her car, which she considers a safe and comforting place since there aren’t many other options for getting away.

The model partnered with designer Kenneth Cole to support The Mental Health Coalition and discussed her personal struggles with anxiety on Good Morning America.

She remembered that after her panic attacks started happening again, she was finally able to find the information she needed to understand them.

Kendall shared that she experiences both good and anxious days, explaining this is why she wanted to get involved in the movement. Her main goal is to help people feel less isolated.

The actor known for playing Black Adam has publicly discussed his struggles with depression and the challenges men often face when trying to talk about their mental well-being.

Everyone experiences difficult times and struggles with depression – it doesn’t care who you are. It took me a while to learn this, but it’s important not to be afraid to talk about what you’re going through. Men especially often keep their feelings bottled up, but remember, you’re not alone.

Prince Harry helped reduce the shame around getting help for mental health by sharing his own experiences with therapy in an interview with the Telegraph. He explained that talking about his struggles made him realize many other people go through similar things, saying, “Once you start talking about it, you realize you’re not alone.”

The actress from Empire is a strong advocate for seeking professional help, having openly discussed her own experiences with depression. She’s shared that she relies on therapy to cope, stating, “I have a therapist that I speak to. That’s the only way I can get through it.”

Taraji P. Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to fight the stigma surrounding mental health within the Black community and to expand access to Black mental health professionals.

As someone who’s spent years observing how people navigate life’s challenges, I’ve learned that trauma can manifest in surprising ways. This incredibly talented Grammy winner recently shared that her struggles with both an eating disorder and crippling stage fright actually led her to explore some really innovative therapy. She’s been undergoing treatment using MDMA and psilocybin – approaches that are gaining recognition for helping people process and heal from deep-seated trauma, similar to how PTSD is treated. It’s a brave step, and highlights how important it is to address the root causes of our struggles.

She told Rolling Stone in May 2025 that she experienced touring without any nervousness for the first time. She described a strange, shared physical sensation – almost like a change in air pressure – that she felt with the audience. This made her understand how much she thrives on and needs that strong, emotional connection with people while performing her music.

She explained that prioritizing her mental well-being and stopping birth control helped her develop a broader understanding of her gender identity.

She explained that she decided to stop taking birth control because it felt like a break from traditional expectations of womanhood. It might sound strange, she admitted, but she felt liberated and like she could explore new possibilities once she wasn’t bound by those expectations. She believed this freedom allowed her to grow and discover more about herself.

In 2017, the actress from Riverdale shared on Instagram that she battled with serious anxiety and depression in middle school, and that support from her family and a therapist was life-saving. She emphasized the importance of reaching out for help, stating that it’s the first step, and that everyone has immense value.

The singer of “What He Didn’t Do” recently opened up about her experiences living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the past several years.

Carly shared on the August 2025 episode of Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde podcast that her anxiety began during her divorce, which happened during the Covid pandemic. However, she also revealed she’s struggled with severe OCD since childhood.

Over the past decade, I got used to keeping things to myself and handling problems on my own. Eventually, a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to go back to therapy and start working through everything. It wasn’t something that started recently – I’ve actually been dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder since I was a child, around 6 or 7 years old.

The actress known for Frozen has openly discussed her mental health strategies for years, sharing them at public speaking events and on platforms like Instagram.

She encourages people to discover what works best for them, and, as she shared with Health magazine, this could involve things like medication, practicing gratitude by listing ten positive thoughts for every negative one, and regular exercise.

The cookbook author is a mother of four and has openly discussed her experience with postpartum depression, a common but often unspoken challenge for new mothers.

She explained in a 2017 letter to Glamour that it became increasingly comfortable for her to talk about it. Her hope was to let others know that anyone can experience this, and to help those who are going through it feel less ashamed and isolated.

While promoting her book, Mirror, Mirror, the model shared with The Edit magazine that she struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts as a teenager, describing a feeling of “something dark” within herself during that period.

Cara shared with the publication, as reported by W magazine, that she used to depend on love and other people for her happiness. She realized she needed to learn to find joy within herself, and after a long journey, she’s finally able to be happy on her own.

Ariana Grande encouraged fans to prioritize their mental health after responding to a joke on Twitter about her own therapist. She shared that therapy has been life-saving for her on numerous occasions.

She encouraged me not to be afraid to ask for help. She explained that I didn’t have to live with constant pain and that healing from trauma is possible. While she acknowledged she had a long journey ahead, she felt that simply recognizing this possibility was a good first step.

The singer has publicly shared her experiences with addiction, recovery, and mental health, and often incorporates these personal struggles into her songs.

She often encourages her fans to prioritize their mental well-being, emphasizing that it’s a continuous effort with both good and bad days. She previously shared on Instagram, “Just a reminder to anyone who’s struggling – life has its highs and lows, but it’s important to keep going.”

The actress has explored mental health both on screen, like with her role as Rue in the show Euphoria, and in her personal life.

As someone who’s spent years helping people navigate life’s challenges, I really connected with Zendaya’s story. She shared a while back that she felt incredibly anxious after a tricky moment on Ellen – her microphone actually cut out during an appearance! It’s so relatable. The good news is, she’s found healthy ways to cope, and she put it beautifully: sometimes you just need to take a break and create some space for yourself when things start to feel overwhelming. It’s a great reminder for all of us!

In a recent interview with WSJ. Magazine, the singer openly shared her experiences with mental health, explaining that she experienced extreme emotional swings – periods of intense highs followed by weeks-long lows.

She revealed she’s been dealing with mental health challenges, but finding the right medication has made a huge difference in her life.

The Grammy-winning artist dedicated herself to promoting kindness and openly discussing mental health, sharing her own experiences as well.

She shared that she’d dealt with mental health challenges for a long time, sometimes openly and sometimes privately. Speaking at the Global Changemakers Award in 2018, she explained her belief that keeping those struggles hidden actually makes things worse.

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2025-10-31 23:48