Fearne Cotton reveals the reality of living with bulimia
The TV and radio presenter speaks for the first time about her ten-year struggle with an eating disorder on Elizabeth Day's podcast, How to Fail

The TV and radio presenter speaks for the first time about her ten-year struggle with an eating disorder on Elizabeth Day's podcast, How to Fail
Words by Navinder Kaur
The TV and radio presenter has been widely praised for speaking about her struggles with depression and anxiety, but has never – until now – revealed she had an eating disorder. As a consequence of finding fame at a relatively young age, Cotton said on the podcast, How to Fail with Elizabeth Day, that she felt pressured to maintain a particular appearance and fell victim to imposter syndrome, which led to her developing bulimia.
Cotton, now 38, says she had an unhealthy relationship with her body for ten years, struggling with the disorder during her twenties and describing it as an on/off battle. Cotton also told Day she felt ashamed and worried what people would think of her if she revealed her disorder.
It was only when Cotton was pregnant with her first baby in 2012, with her now husband Jesse Woods, 43, that she admits she tried hard to overcome the disorder. ‘Getting pregnant, I let go of all of it. I ate everything in sight. It just went overnight,’ she says. 'I knew I had to stick to a very practical way of looking at food to sustain my health for myself and my newborn baby.'
If you are affected by the issues in this news story, contact: Beat or call their adult helpline on 0808 801 0677 and youth helpline on 0808 801 0711.
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
The leading destination for fashion, beauty, shopping and finger-on-the-pulse views on the latest issues. Marie Claire's travel content helps you delight in discovering new destinations around the globe, offering a unique – and sometimes unchartered – travel experience. From new hotel openings to the destinations tipped to take over our travel calendars, this iconic name has it covered.
-
It's a hard job picking the best beauty products of the month, but we've only gone and done it with these 8
5-star products
By Katie Thomas
-
As a beauty editor with oily skin, I've tested dozens of silicone primers—here are the ones that ensure my make-up lasts all day
My secret to a smooth long-lasting base
By Jazzria Harris
-
Penn Badgley has written songs for every one of his A-list girlfriends, from Zoë Kravitz to Blake Lively
By Jenny Proudfoot