Zayn Malik tells how he finally conquered his eating disorder and crippling anxiety
Singer says a break from the spotlight at home in the UK did wonders for his mental health
TROUBLED One Direction star Zayn Malik says has finally conquered his eating disorder and anxiety demons, thanks to a break from the spotlight at home with his parents.
The ex-boyband singer insists he has now controlled his eating habits and no longer suffers from the mental health issues that prevented him performing live since launching his solo career a year ago.
On his eating battle, Zayn said: “It was a control thing.
"Every area of my life was so regimented and controlled it was the one area where I could say, ‘No, I’m not eating that’.
“Once I got over the control, the eating just came back into place, super naturally.
“I came back to the UK and spent some time with my mum and got some TLC, and she cooked me food and I got back in touch, mentally, with a lot of the things I’d lost.”
He added: “I now have no problem with anxiety. It was something I was dealing with in the band.”
Last June Zayn, 24, pulled out of his first European solo show for Capital FM’s Summertime Ball at Wembley Stadium just minutes before he was due to take to the stage due to his crippling anxiety.
He cancelled a second gig at Dubai’s Autism Rocks three months later, telling fans he had made progress but still didn’t feel “sufficiently confident”.
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The Pillowtalk singer later confessed in his autobiography, Zayn, that he had struggled with food, and at the height of his One Direction fame would sometimes go for “two or three days straight” without eating.
After coming through his secret hell he said he felt society didn’t expect men to have emotional problems.
Zayn told the magazine: “People saw strength in that, and they didn’t seem to expect it from a guy, but they expect it from a female, which to me is crazy.
“We’re all human. People are often afraid to admit difficulties, but I don’t believe that there should be a struggle with anything that’s the truth.
“If you were a guy, you used to have to be really masculine, but now expressing emotion is accepted and respected.”
The Bradford-born star also revealed he had not yet taken his supermodel girlfriend Gigi to his home town, but she had met his family in London a few times.
The power couple — known as "Zigi" — have been together since 2015, with the supermodel rushing to his defence during the height of his struggles by praising his honesty.
She wrote on Twitter at the time: “I’ve seen the battles you go through and the way you fight to get to a place that allows you to get up there for your fans.
“Your bravery in those times makes me proud, but your honesty last night proved what you’re all about, being real.”
Zayn was previously engaged to Little Mix star Perrie Edwards.