‘Like Jameela, I Struggled With My Body Image'

Cara Davis berated herself for being greedy – but her food issues were actually related to her mental health

- Kristina Beanland, Deborah Riseley And Kara O'Neill

Jameela Jamil has struggled with her body image since she was young. At 14, her periods stopped because she was so underweight – and she didn’t eat a full meal for the next three years. It took a car accident to kick-start the star’s recovery.

Back to a healthy size 12, her career skyrocketed and, in 2013, she became the first woman to host the Radio 1 chart show. But the newspapers weren’t kind.

‘The papers reported I had gained, not 200,000 listeners, but a couple of dress sizes,’ says Jameela, who is looking to end fat-shaming with the @i_weigh campaign, which asks women to focus on their achievements rather than the scales.

Like Jameela, Cara Davis, 32, struggled with her looks – until she realised she was suffering with an eating disorder.

We all have days when we don’t eat as healthily as we should. Maybe you have an extra biscuit with your cup of tea, some chocolate at your desk.

But not so long ago, when I felt my willpower waiver, I’d gorge on whole cakes, an entire loaf of bread and multipacks of crisps – no matter how full I was.

As a child, I had a sweet tooth, so I’d spend my pocket money on pick-and-mix. Soon, it was clear I was heavier than girls my age.

So self-conscious, I was just 14 when I started counting calories. But while my intentions were good, it never lasted. In the years that followed, I tried countless diets – from Atkins and juicing to taking pills that suppressed hunger. I’d lose a few pounds, but then I’d put it all back on again.