Ed Sheeran developed eating disorder after comparing himself to Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber

Ed Sheeran has admitted he developed an eating disorder after comparing himself to ‘every other pop star’.

The singer, 32, claimed he began struggling with his body image after collaborating with the likes of Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber, who both have ‘fantastic figures’.

Admitting he felt ‘mad uncomfortable’ talking about his struggles in an interview with Rolling Stone, Ed explained how he began ‘gorging’ on food before vomiting it back up again.

He said: ‘I’m self-conscious anyway, but you get into an industry where you’re getting compared to every other pop star. I was in the One Direction wave, and I’m like, “Well, why don’t I have a six pack?”

‘And I was like, “Oh, because you love kebabs and drink beer.” Then you do songs with Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes. All these people have fantastic figures. And I was always like, “Well, why am I so … fat?”‘

Ed – who shares children Lyra, two, and Jupier, 10 months, with his wife Cherry Seaborn, 30 – continued, ‘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.’

The Bad Habits songster compared his struggles to Elton John’s, who had written in his own autobiography, ‘I had developed bulimia.’

Back in 2020, Ed said that he has a ‘very addictive personality’ and confessed that he used to binge on alcohol and junk food for the first time.

The hitmaker spoke candidly about his past and learning to deal with fame in a chat with an American self-help book publisher, reported The Sun.

Although struggling with his busy touring schedule in the past and going through some ‘dark’ moments, Ed credited Cherry with helping him through it all.

During the very candid interview, Ed revealed that when he was reading Elton John’s autobiography he could see similarities in their stories.

Giving an example from the book, he said: ‘He [Elton] would be like, “I would just go on an ice cream binge and eat four f***ing desserts until I throw it up”, and I was like, “I’ve done that before”…

‘I’m covered in tattoos and I kind of don’t do things by halves so if I’m gonna drink, I see no point in having a glass of wine. I’d rather have two bottles.’

The star praised his wife Cherry for helping him change his lifestyle and start making healthy choices. 

Ripped: The singer, 32, claimed he began struggling with his body image after collaborating with the likes of Shawn Mendes (pictured in 2022) and Justin Bieber

Toned: Justin is pictured while performing at Sziget Festival 2022 in Budapest

He explained how she doesn’t drink too often, so he also stopped drinking alcohol as regularly.

Ed, who is worth an estimated £160 million, added that Cherry also helps him with his anxiety, with her once helping him calm down in a cafe in Venice, Italy.

He explained that she told him nobody was staring at them and it was just ‘old people chilling, having their coffees’, and within five minutes he was ‘calm’.

Admitting that he’s got a ‘very addictive personality’, the Shape Of You singer also discussed how his 180-date X tour was his lowest moment.

Ed was on the road for 17 months during the tour in 2014 and said that not eating well and not seeing much sunlight made things tough to deal with.

He said: ‘And it’s all fun and games at the start, then it starts getting just sad. So I think that’s probably the lowest that I’ve been and I kind of ballooned.

‘I felt, “What was the point?” In a dark way, like, “Why am I around? What is the point?”

Ed also revealed he’s got into art now that he’s on a break from touring and social media, telling the publication he’s trying to do 30 paintings in 30 days.

For eating disorder support, contact charity Beat on 08088010677 or visit beateatingdisorders.org.uk. 

Soulmates: Although struggling with his busy touring schedule in the past and going through some ‘dark’ moments, Ed credited Cherry with helping him through it all (pictured in 2018)