Tom Daley opens up about bulimia battle and unrealistic body expectations in gay culture

Olympic champion and television personality Tom Daley has spoken candidly about his long-standing struggle with bulimia and body dysmorphia, shedding light on the pressures faced by gay men around body image.

In a heartfelt interview with Radio Times, the 31-year-old revealed that his eating disorder began at just 17, after being told by his diving performance director that he was “overweight”. “I had absolutely no idea what I was doing at that time, so I just cut out food,” Daley shared. “I used to get so hungry that I’d binge. Then when I binged, I’d feel so bad that I was bulimic for a while. It was a dark time because I didn’t have anyone to talk to about it. Men weren’t meant to talk about their eating disorders back then.”

Daley, who first opened up about his body image issues in his 2021 memoir Coming Up for Air, said the scrutiny over his appearance intensified in the lead-up to the London 2012 Olympics. “It was the first time where I felt that I was being looked at and judged not for how I did in the diving pool, but for how I looked,” he said. 

The Celebrity Traitors star also spoke about the ongoing impact of unrealistic body standards within the gay community. “I think it’s a big thing in the gay world. Some people have very unrealistic body expectations,” he said. “As an Olympian, I go to the gym and I hate it because I’m like, ‘Oh my God, everybody’s judging me for how I’m doing this.’ I find it intimidating.”

Daley credited his husband, Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, for being a vital source of support throughout his journey. “My husband’s been a huge support in that,” he said.