Ed Sheeran reveals eating disorder battle triggered by comparing himself to other pop stars

The British singer has reflected on the early days in his career, when he couldn’t help but compare himself to fellow pop stars Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes.

Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran and Shawn Mendes. Picture: Getty

Ed Sheeran has opened up about having an eating disorder triggered by unfavourably comparing himself to other pop stars.

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, the British singer admitted how he always felt “fat” and believes he has a similar relationship with food as Sir Elton John, who has previously spoken about having bulimia.

“I’m self-conscious anyway, but you get into an industry where you’re getting compared to every other pop star,” Sheeran told the magazine as per The Sun.

Ed Sheeran says he wishes he had a six-pack like other pop stars. Picture: Marc Piasecki/Getty Images For Global Citizen

“I was in the One Direction wave, and I’m like, ‘Well, why don’t I have a six-pack?’” he recalled thinking of the boy band consisting of Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles.

“And I was like, ‘Oh, because you love kebabs and drink beer.’ Then you do songs with Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes.”

Justin Bieber collaborated with Ed Sheeran on his 2019 hit I Don’t Care. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella

Shawn Mendes collaborated with Ed Sheeran on his 2018 track Fallin’ All in You. Picture: Tony Gough

“All these people have fantastic figures. And I was always like, ‘Well, why am I so … fat?’”

He continued: “So I found myself doing what Elton talks about in his book – gorging, and then it would come up again.”

Sheeran said he admitted feeling “mad uncomfortable” talking about it “as a man” but said “it’s good to be honest”.

He went on: “I have a real eating problem. I’m a real binge eater. I’m a binge everything.

“But I’m now more of a binge exerciser, and a binge dad. And work, obviously.”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission