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 made the admission in an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper.
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," he said. "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."