Танцор из Strictly Come Dancing Вито Коппола рассказал о борьбе с расстройством пищевого поведения

Vito Coppola is one of most successful professionals on Strictly Come Dancing having made the final three times and lifting the Glitterball trophy in 2023 with ex Coronation Street actress, Ellie Leach. Before finding Strictly fame, Vito danced around the world competitively, becoming 11-time Italian Latin American Champion. Balconi But under the intense scrutiny of the standards professional ballroom and Latin dancers are held to, Vito revealed that as a young teenager he started to struggle with his body image. He said: “I was 16, I remember I had this moment where I thought my body didn’t tick the box of the standard that was needed, and this influenced my mental health." Talking to Digital Spy exclusively about the challenges he faced during that time, Vito, 33, shared how he developed an eating disorder that reached its worst for the star when he collapsed during a dance competition. Balconi The Strictly favourite explained: “I’ve been dancing since I was six years old. In the competition environment you do have to compare yourself with other couples, there are certain preferences and a judge can say "I prefer that body shape.” Asked why he decided to open up now about the potentially life threatening eating disorder, he told Digital Spy he wants to use his own experiences to help others, especially men: ”This was the right moment in my life, and the right way to share these experiences, which I haven’t spoken about. Some of my family didn’t know about these specific moments of my life. Guy Levy // BBC “With men this topic is a taboo and especially in Italy, you are not allowed to show weakness or cry, I’m sharing this because I don’t want people to feel alone with their battles.” Having found success on Strictly, the professional dancer also won Celebrity Masterchef in 2024 impressing the judges with Italian dishes inspired from his upbringing. Despite his prior battle, Vito shares his love of food in his new book, Love Vito, and reveals cooking helps him to connect to his roots in Italy, he told Digital Spy: “Food has been the connection and glue that has kept me close to my family, when I’m miles away I reproduce something and it feels like I’m at home again.” Vito Coppola has teamed up with the Italian Balconi cake brand - available in all major retailers now (RRP from £1.75). For more information, visit www.balconiuk.com or @ balconi_uk For anyone struggling with the issues raised in this article, eating disorder charity Beat ’s helpline is available 365 days a year on 0808 801 0677.