Kadeena Cox, the four-time Paralympic gold medalist, is a campmate on the new series of I’m a Celebrity – which returns tomorrow, with Ant and Dec live from North Wales
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Kadeena Cox has revealed she spoke to her psychiatrist ahead of I’m a Celebrity over concern that it could trigger her eating disorder – something she’s previously discussed.
The four-time Paralympic gold medalist has openly talked about having body dysmorphia and what she has described as “disordered eating” in the past, admitting back in 2019 that she sometimes goes for days without eating at all.
It was previously reported that such issues came after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in around 2014 – with medication and lifestyle changes leading to weight gain. She’s said to have used laxatives to control her weight.
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And whilst speaking to the Mirror and other news outlets recently ahead of the new series of I’m a Celebrity, the 30-year-old sprinter was asked if she was worried that the experience in camp could trigger her eating disorder.
She responded: “It’s something that I’ve spoken about with my psychiatrist and I’ve kind of put things in place. I’m in a really good place and I spent the last two or three years working really hard to get to where I am right now.”
“The Paralympics is a point at which I realised I was more in control of my eating disorder than it was in control of me. But I’m hoping I’m just in a good place,” she continued.
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She said that she hopes to provide inspiration to others going through similar struggles whilst she’s on the poplular ITV reality series – which returns tomorrow night.
“Rather than struggling with my eating disorder I’m hoping that I will be able to showcase recovery and allow people with eating disorders to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” she explained.
During the recent interview with the media, Kadeena said that missing out on trials due to having MS was one of her “biggest fears” – and almost lead her to not take part.
She said: “I didn’t want to be that person that was exempt from loads of trials because I’ve got a disability. I’m the kind of person that’s about what I can do as opposed to what I can’t do.”
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Kadeena added: “I have spoken with the team and we’ve talked about ways in which we can adapt things and make it so that there are ways in which I can do the trials without missing out on opportunities.”
She concluded: “It’s great that the team worked so closely with me to make sure that I won’t feel like my disability is holding me back.”
I’m a Celebrity returns on ITV tomorrow at 9pm. Episodes will be available following broadcast through the ITV Hub.
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