[ColdDayInHell]

FORMER British deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has confessed to having suffered from the binge eating disorder bulimia for over 20 years, the 69-year-old politician told the Sunday Times newspaper in an interview.

Prescott, who stood down as deputy prime minister in June after a 10-year stint, said stress brought on the disorder when he was a shadow cabinet member in the 1980s, with the condition degenerating after the Labour Party came to power in 1997.

"I've never confessed it before," Prescott told the Sunday Times. "Out of shame, I suppose, or embarrassment or just because it's such a strange thing for someone like me to confess to.

"People normally associate it with young women -- anorexic girls, models trying to keep their weight down -- or women in stressful situations, like Princess Diana."

Britain's leading eating disorders charity BEAT estimates some 1.1 million people in Britain are affected by anorexia, bulimia or binge eating.

"What I did was stuff my face with anything around, any old rubbish, burgers, chocolate, crisps, fish and chips, loads of it, till I felt sick -- but at least I'd had the pleasure of stuffing my face and feeling really full," said Prescott.

"Then there would be a weird kind of pleasure in vomiting and feeling relieved.

"I could sup a whole tin of Carnation condensed milk, just for the taste, stupid things like that. Mark and Spencer trifles, I still love them, one of my favourites. I can eat them for ever."

Prescott, who also suffers from Type 2 diabetes, said he has not suffered from bulimia for over a year.

"I try to exercise in the gym for 45 minutes every day. My weight, though, is still over 15 stone -- as I do love my food -- but I try not to snack between meals and to eat at sensible times.

Prescott was one of former Prime Minister Tony Blair's most colourful ministers and known as a plain-speaking hard man was a strong link between the traditional left-wing of Labour and Blair's modernised party.


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