England rugby star Ellie Kildunne has spoken out about her secret struggle with body dysmorphia, which began during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown. Despite her success on the field, including scoring five tries in England's Rugby World Cup win, Kildunne has revealed that she felt isolated and alone after the tournament. She has now spoken about her unhealthy relationship with food and her experiences with an eating disorder that developed during the pandemic. Kildunne explained that she would often see herself as bigger than she actually was, and that this distorted self-image led to a terrible relationship with food.
She credits a physio session with lead physiotherapist Emily Ross at her previous club Wasps for helping her to address the issue. With Ross's support, Kildunne was able to confront her problems and is now feeling more in control.
She hopes that by speaking out, she can help others who may be struggling with similar issues and show that even successful athletes can face personal challenges.