My bulimia was a 'necessary evil', says ex Formula One ace David Coulthard

Daily Mail​

a day ago

Scots Formula One star David Coulthard has revealed he saw bulimia as a 'necessary evil' as a young driver.
The former McLaren, Williams and Red Bull driver said he weighed himself twice a day to make sure he was the perfect size for racing.
He said just saw it as what was required for young drivers to make their way through the ranks.
But eating disorder charities have warned that bulimia can cause serious health problems.
Speaking to Jake Humphrey on the High Performance Podcast, Coulthard, who has worked as a pundit since retiring in 2008, said: I didn't see it as a pressure. I saw it as a necessary thing to make weight.
'Jockeys, we're familiar with jockeys having to do saunas and whatever to lose the body weight to do the event they're doing. Boxers, I'm sure there's others. Gymnasts I assume.
'Just dysmorphia. They don't see in the mirror what they feel is a reflection of them as an individual.
'I would step on the scales and I was a pound overweight. That was going to affect my performance. So I weighed myself twice a day as a teenager.
'Morning when I got up, completely dry. And evening before I went to bed. Then that gave me my average weight.
'And I could tell a few days out whether I was in the right area for the race weekend.
'It was more of a compromise. It was a necessary evil of which I didn't discuss with anyone.
'I just knew that if I was overweight, then whatever dinner I'd had that night was not going to stay inside me.
'When I went into cars, suddenly I was relatively light for a 17-year-old because I'd kind of starved myself through my late teens.
'And therefore I had room to grow into my body.
'It was making sure I didn't have a disadvantage, because if I was overweight, I had a disadvantage.
'An edge would have been if they didn't include a weight and I could have got even lighter. But of course you're always looking for every advantage you can.'
Daniel Magson, CEO of the charity First Steps ED, said: 'It is positive to see David talk so bravely about his experience of bulimia.
'We know that every eating disorder journey is unique, and that is why it is so important to share stories and break stigma, so more people who are impacted by bulimia can reach services like First Steps ED.
'Bulimia can cause serious damage to the body. Long-term effects include damage to teeth, throat, vocal cords and gut, and it may also increase the risk of heart problems.
'That is why early intervention is so important for anyone struggling with an eating disorder or with weight concerns. Our team offers support tailored to where you are on your recovery journey.'
Mr Coulthard won 13 F1 races in his career and finished second in the drivers' standings in 2001, behind Michael Schumacher.