Vito Coppola reveals past battle with bulimia

Strictly Come Dancing professional Vito Coppola has revealed his past struggle with bulimia, describing the eating disorder as “crippling” and “potentially life-threatening.” The 33-year-old Italian dancer shared that the disorder stemmed from a “toxic” competitive dance environment where he faced body-shaming from judges and bullying from rivals.

Coppola recounted a significant incident during his early twenties when he fainted while performing a jive at the World Championships in Toronto, Canada, due to a lack of energy. He noted that the pressure to match the appearance of slimmer or stronger competitors led to a cycle of bingeing and purging that lasted several months.

In discussing his upcoming food memoir, “Love, Vito,” Coppola emphasized that true strength involves stepping away from damaging situations. He noted that the issue of body image and eating disorders has also affected fellow professional Dianne Buswell.