Former One Direction star Zayn Malik has spoken out about having an eating disorder. The singer revealed the shocking news in a candid interview with The Sunday Times Style Magazine. It is well documented that he has suffered from anxiety and he said he used the eating disorder as a form of control.
Zayn said ‘People saw strength in that, and they didn’t seem to expect it from a guy, but they expect it from a female, which to me is crazy. We’re all human. People are often afraid to admit difficulties, but I don’t believe that there should be a struggle with anything that’s the truth.’
The singer said that he often went days without eating as a way to try and cope with the emotional stresses of his fame with One Direction. He said ‘Every area of my life was so regimented and controlled, it was the one area where I could say, “No, I’m not eating that.’
Malik has pulled out of several high-profile events in the last few years due to his crippling anxiety. His model girlfriend, Gigi Hadid, has always openly supported her boyfriend through his mental health issues and often speaks about how proud she is of him on social media. Zayn is set to release his second solo album later this year.