Craig David has revealed how the pursuit of a extremely low body fat and six-pack abs in the earlier part of his career led to him experiencing body dysmorphia.

In the BBC documentary series, Imposter Syndrome, David reflected on his struggles with body dysmorphia and the lengths he went to to reach 4% body fat. The 7 Days singer, 42, shared how, when he was living in Miami in 2013, he would train religiously, but never felt satisfied with the results. He also revealed that despite his exercise obsession and lean appearance, when he looked in the mirror 'it was never quite right'.

David has previously spoken candidly about his mental health struggles over the years, admitting he had recently chosen a life of celibacy in order to heal from his 'own issues'.

When living in Miami, David reportedly trained in the gym every single day, but claims his extreme fitness habits were 'never about the body'.

Reflecting on his former physique, David said, 'You're looking like Skeletor from He-Man. What's happening here? Are you looking at yourself? ​​And who is this for?'

'​​So I look back at it in two ways. It's like, one, wow look how far you can take it to. But also, to what means? What was the end goal?

'​​But, I was down to like 4.5% body fat. And I'm still looking, thinking, well, if I can just get it down to that, which is a very, bodybuilding, like, lifestyle.'

To put 4.5% body fat in perspective, according to Nuffield Health, a healthy body fat percentage range for men is 19-25%.

The singer continued, '​​But now, sitting here, I feel like I had to go back to the little kid who was carrying a bit of weight, the shoulder to cry on and be like, "You know what? You always had everything that you could have ever had wanted."'

David's comments echo thoughts he previously shared with an Australian breakfast TV show. 'There was a time when I was just training like crazy, but then I realised that actually, having been an overweight kid, I just wanted to do the opposite, but then finding balance was key,' David said.

What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

According to the BDD foundation, body dysmorphic disorder can include:

  • Repetitive behaviours to try to cope with appearance concerns e.g. trying to camouflage perceived flaws by covering them with clothing, excessive amounts of make-up or using other parts of the body.
  • Spending huge amounts of time examining appearance in mirrors and other reflective surfaces, or avoiding them completely.
  • Spending a lot of time carrying out grooming routines, such as applying make-up and cosmetic products.
  • Comparing appearance to others; which is often done online. Seeking reassurance is common too.
  • Engaging in behaviours that can be harmful when trying to improve appearance.

If you or someone you know may be suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder, you can gain support by contacting BEAT.

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Kate Neudecker

Kate is a fitness writer for Men’s Health UK where she contributes regular workouts, training tips and nutrition guides. She has a post graduate diploma in Sports Performance Nutrition and before joining Men’s Health she was a nutritionist, fitness writer and personal trainer with over 5k hours coaching on the gym floor. Kate has a keen interest in volunteering for animal shelters and when she isn’t lifting weights in her garden, she can be found walking her rescue dog.