Food is a common obsession among my I’m A Celebrity campmates, but Frankie Dettori has a more difficult connection with food than others.
The 53-year-old jockey was the first out of the 2023 jungle, having arrived as a surprise latecomer alongside Tony Bellew, who finished second.
Frankie took everything in stride and adjusted into camp life before being kicked out 12 days later, after indulging in champions and trials breakfast.
Frankie stated to Piers Morgan on Uncensored that his passion to his sport required him to control his weight and have an extremely light and physically strong body.
The jockey revealed information of the eating condition that had taken over his life while he was in his prime, driven by his desire to win races.
‘I did 10 years of being bulimic,’ began the Italian sportsman. ‘Yes, guessing between my 30s and 40s…’
He has previously discussed his battle with bulimia, notably following his cocaine incident in 2012, which resulted in a racing ban.
He was vomiting up two or three times a day, was anxious, and was on the verge of melancholy, so he went to medicines.
Frankie continued: ‘I would have a meal at night, throw up or sometimes I would have a big breakfast and throw up but didn’t do it because I wanted to do it. I did it because the scale doesn’t lie.
‘It was a way of lifestyle that I chose to have, you know, no different to I guess models have the same problem… I tried everything. I tried diuretic pills, laxatives, I made myself sick.
‘I remember driving a car with a sweat suit with a heaters on. You try extreme things in your job because you have to lose the weight… it was to lose weight, as simple as that.’
Although he no longer has an eating disorder, his relationship with food is limited as he strives to keep in shape for racing in the United States.
‘I’ve trained myself not to eat bad things. For the last 30 years … I don’t eat bread, I don’t eat junk food,’ the racing legend explained.
Despite his Italian heritage, he claims to eat pasta just “once every three months,” although he still consumes wine in moderation.
When he’s feeling experimental, the Royal Ascot icon will indulge in a ‘cheeky’ Caesar salad or a piece of chocolate.
Frankie added: ‘It is a lifestyle. It’s a big sacrifice. You never see me eat a burger because I think my body now can’t take it anymore.’
BEAT
If you suspect you, a family member or friend has an eating disorder, contact Beat on 0808 801 0677 or at help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk, for information and advice on the best way to get appropriate treatment
Source My Celebrity Life.