TV star shares her story on the eating disorder few people talk about

Former Gogglebox Australia star Yvie Jones has candidly revealed her long-term struggles with a disorder that has only recently been recognised.

Yvie Jones is sharing her story on the eating disorder few people talk about.

Six years after her impactful protest against group weigh-ins on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!, the former Gogglebox star is opening up about her own struggle with binge eating disorder (BED) as host Butterfly podcast series, Butterfly: Let’s Talk.

Jones told Confidential about the misconception that binge eating is merely a sign of laziness, instead that it stems from deeper mental health issues.

“It’s a control thing, which most I think eating disorders are, control of a situation where everything around you is out of control,” Jones said, careful with her wording because talking about specifics of an eating disorder can encourage someone vulnerable to replicate those behaviours.

It was only recently that Binge Eating Disorder received recognition as a legitimate eating disorder, rather than a sign of overeating.

Yvie Jones has spoken candidly about her own binge eating issues. Picture: Eugene Hyland

“It was actually quite technically a decade ago when it (BED) was something that was really starting to be looked at as an eating disorder,” she said.

The 51-year-old was only recently diagnosed, but has been living with BED since childhood.

“It was a coping mechanism, it was something that sometimes I didn’t even realise was happening because it would be like episodic crashes where I would be awake but I’d be eating and I didn’t realise I was standing in the kitchen … that was in response to stress,” Jones explained.

“It would almost be like a trance. I would go into a trance of panic and while my mind was racing and thinking of all the catastrophic things, I wouldn’t realise that I had reached for the binge eating foods that I would go for.

“I would wake out of the trap almost halfway through because my brain and mind is doing something completely different to my body.”

Richard Reid, Yvie Jones and Shane Crawford ahead of the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! finale on Sunday night. Photo: Channel 10

Although society has come a long way, Jones said eating disorders are still misunderstood.

“A lot of the older generation as well (don’t understand eating disorders), and it’s also very cultural but unfortunately it’s a patriarchal thing in the world.

“(People think) to be overweight means that you’ve done that to yourself and you’re a lazy person who, if you just worked a bit harder you wouldn’t be that way and unfortunately, there’s so much learning and I guess unlearning to be done and some people will never ever accept that.”

Gogglebox Australia stars Angie Kent and Yvie Jones. Picture: Channel 10

Jones’ new podcast Let’s Talk features eating disorder and body image experts with a focus on breaking down misconceptions and stigmas to encourage people to seek help.

“I want people to have a conversation. I want people to start talking about body image and eating disorders more openly … much more education and much more information.

“There’s so many of us and a lot of people are living in silence. A lot of people are living their entire lives with their own shame … there is damage that these eating disorders can cause.”

For support with eating disorders or body image concerns, call Butterfly National Helpline on 1800334673 or visit www.butterfly.org.au to chat online.