Yahoo News Strictly's Dianne Buswell says eating disorder made her want to stop dancing
The dancer told This Morning she had wanted to give up on performing at one point because her illness got so bad.
Watch Strictly's Dianne Buswell say eating disorder made her want to stop dancing
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Strictly Come Dancing star Dianne Buswell has told how her eating disorder got so bad that she did not want to dance any more.
The BBC show's pro dancer is known for her energetic approach to performing, but opened up on her previous battle with bulimia that left her so drained that she considered giving up on dancing.
Buswell spoke to This Morning alongside Dr Chuks Nwuba, whose book Eating Disorders Don't Discriminate features the star's story, about how bulimia and overexercising had affected her life.
What, how, and why?
Buswell is one of Strictly's most popular stars and is known for her seemingly boundless energy on the dancefloor - but she has told how her battle with an eating disorder left her so exhausted that she wanted to give up dancing.
Revealing just how difficult things had got, Buswell said: "It got to a point where I didn't want to dance any more. I was afraid to go on stage, I felt physically ill at the thought that I didn't even know if I could get through an hour show.
"I was known as the Energiser Bunny, that's what I was cast as - she has so much energy, she's always full of life. That really went away from me. I had nothing to give on the dancefloor and that really terrified me. I just couldn't do it any more.
"I have a strong mind so I just kept telling myself you can do it, keep going, but it was a breaking point where my body physically couldn't do it any more and that's when I knew I had to get help."
The Australian star has featured in the BBC One series since 2017, partnering celebrities including Bobby Brazier, Tyler West, and Joe Sugg who she is now in a relationship with.
Last year, Buswell spoke out on Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof about having struggled with bulimia and overexercising earlier in her career, and on Tuesday's This Morning she shared more of her story alongside Dr Chuks Nwuba, whose book Eating Disorders Don't Discriminate she features in.
Buswell told how she had started to be affected by her eating disorder from an early age as she tried to make her way in the competitive world of dance, and found weight checks at some of the dance companies she worked for particularly difficult.
"There was a weekly weigh-in and I can't tell you how terrifying that was and how much that played on my mind for the whole week when you knew that weigh-in was coming up," she said. "It was quite intense."
However, Buswell has spoken about how proud she is of her recovery from the disorder that left her close to having a heart attack when it was at its worst.
She said: "For me, it was a big realisation of your body is your tool and we can't do anything without it. When I started to really appreciate my body for what it is, I ended up getting Strictly, all these magical things happened because I was just enjoying my body for what it is and not trying to be something that it's not."
What else has been happening on This Morning?
This Morning is gearing up to welcome its new permanent hosting duo, Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, next week.
Both presenters had been trialled in guest roles at the end of last year, and in February they were confirmed as the line-up show bosses had settled on for Mondays to Thursdays.
Good Morning Britain's Richard Arnold announced their start date as part of his showbiz news round up on Shephard's last day. The entertainment reporter revealed: "Breaking news, just in, I can reveal that Ben Shephard's debut on This Morning... will be Monday March 11, right here on ITV!"
Kate Garraway asked: "Monday March 11! Did you know that by the way or has Richard just told you?" Shephard replied: "I thought I had another week off!"
Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary will continue to host on Fridays.
This Morning airs on ITV at 10am on weekdays.
Read more: Dianne Buswell
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