Ex-Deputy Prime Minister, UK, John Prescott, 69, battled in silence with eating disorder bulimia for ten years. In a BBC interview Prescott says the shame of being a high-profile figure with the illness kept him in silence. In a Sunday Times article he says he used to consume huge quantities of food – which might include the entire menu of a Chinese restaurant, plus a whole tin of condensed milk and trifle, and then he would vomit.
Prescott explained to the BBC that he never admitted to this out of shame and embarrassment. “I found it difficult as a man like me to admit that I suffered from bulimia – the doctors told me that it was probably due to stress. I eventually managed to control it and to stop it a few years ago.”
Prescott believes it is important to de-stigmatize bulimia – he hopes his revelation may encourage other sufferers to seek help. He says there are millions of people who suffer in silence – these people should take advice, get help, and get out of the misery that they suffer in silence.
Although eating disorders are associated with young women, it also affects men, Prescott wrote in the Sunday Times.
What is Bulimia?
Bulimia is generally defined as a psychological disorder, which is usually treated with psychotherapy, with cognitive behavioral therapy being most commonly recommended.
According to the diagnostician’s ‘bible’, the DSM-IV-TR® Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association, for patients to be diagnosed with bulimia (as opposed to anorexia nervosa), they must be showing the following 4 symptoms:
— Binge-eating “repeatedly” – eating much more than most people normally do, together with a feeling that they can’t stop or control their eating.
— Repeatedly and inappropriately compensating for the over-eating, such as over-medicating with laxatives, fasting, exercising to exhaustion, or making themselves vomit.
— Been doing these two things (binge-eating and inappropriately compensating) repeatedly at least twice a week for the last 3 months.
— Overly judging themselves in terms of the weight and shape of their bodies.
Unlike anorexia nervosa, bulimia is difficult to recognize. The person who suffers from bulimia is not usually underweight. Because of the shame and guilt associated with bulimia, patients are skilled in masking the symptoms.
Long-term, a person with bulimia may suffer from malnutrition – a symptom which often brings the patient to the attention of the doctor.
John Prescott, mini-biography
Name – John Leslie Prescott.
Born 31 May 1938 in Prestatyn, Wales.
His father was a railway signalman and also a Labour councillor, his grandfather was a miner. His family moved to Brinsworth, South Yorkshire, England where he attended Brinsworth Primary School. There he failed the Eleven Plus Examination (1948).
The family then moved to Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England, where he attended Grange Secondary Modern School.
When he left school he worked in the Merchant Navy, for Cunard, as a waiter. He became a popular left-wing union activist. He won several boxing contests while aboard ship. After Anthony Eden resigned following the Suez Crisis Prescott met him on a cruise to New Zealand (1957). Eden was often present during the boxing award ceremonies.
He attended Rusking College, Oxford. This college had specialized courses for union officials. Here he gained a diploma in politics and economics. Later on he obtained a BSc in Economics from the University of Hull, England.
1966 – Stood for Member of Parliament (MP) for Southport, but came second.
1970 – Elected MP for Hull East, beating Norman Lamont.
1974-1979 – Concurrently served as MEP (Member of the European Parliament) and Leader of the Labour Group.
His impassioned closing speech in the debate at the Labour Party Conference in 1993 on the introduction of one member one vote secured his career. He held various posts in the Shadow Cabinet.
1994 – Became Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.
1997- Became Deputy Prime Minister.
June 2007 – Admitted to hospital, later diagnosed with pneumonia. He was moved to a high dependency ward at University College Hospital, London, so that doctors could monitor him more closely due to his age and diabetes. After one week in hospital he continued recovering at home.
Written by – Christian Nordqvist