Poor Zayn Malik. Fame was really a lot harder for him than any of us could have thought. Zayn has long struggled with anxiety and recently cancelled a few of his solo shows because of it, but apparently things were so much worse when he was in One Direction.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Zayn revealed that he suffered from an eating disorder during the end of his time with One Direction.
“When I look back at images of myself from around November 2014, before the final tour, I can see how ill I was,” said the 23-year-old. “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.”
“It wasn’t as though I had any concerns about my weight or anything like that. I’d just go for days—sometimes two or three days straight—without eating anything at all,” he continued. “It got quite serious, although at the time I didn’t recognize it for what it was.”
For Zayn, his eating disorder was never about his weight, but about control. According to EatingDisorder.org, those who feel a lack of control in their lives can develop eating disorders to cope. This often occurs after traumatic events, but it’s possible that fame was traumatic for Zayn, who already suffered from anxiety. The inability to control his life because of the level of his career coupled with increasing stress could have lead to his anorexia.
“I didn’t feel like I had control over anything else in my life, but food was something I could control, so I did,” he said.
Zayn quit the multiplatinum selling band in 2015 after cancelling numerous appearances because of stress. He is currently working on a solo project and released his debut album Mind of Mine in 2016.
Though Zayn later downplays his eating disorder saying, “I don’t think I ever had an eating disorder. I was never diagnosed with one of them,” his words speak volumes. There is still a massive stigma when it comes to men and eating disorders. It’s largely regarded as a women’s problem and women are much more likely to come forward and seek counselling. Men still make up approximately one to five percent of patients with anorexia in the UK, and even more men (like Zayn) have eating disorders that are left untreated. This is an issue that needs visibility and Zayn’s words help dispel the stigma. We just hope Zayn has gotten the help he needs. We’re rooting for you!
If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Eating Disorders Association helpline at 1-800-931-2237.
