Strictly's Vito Coppola reveals crippling bulimia battle caused him to collapse on stage as he opens up about 'potentially life-threatening' eating disorder during his teen years

Strictly's Vito Coppola has opened up about his crippling bulimia battle which caused him to collapse on stage in a new candid interview. The professional dancer, 33, who has starred on the BBC dance show since 2022, revealed the eating disorder was 'serious and potentially life-threatening' as he struggled in the toxic and competitive world of dance. The NHS defines the main signs of bulimia as losing control of how much you're eating over a very short time (binge eating) and ridding your body of the extra food by purging – either by making yourself sick or by taking laxatives or diuretic medicines. The Italian star said he felt pressure to have the perfect body and was often told by judges that his bottom was too big or his legs were too chunky. Eventually it all came to a head in his early twenties when he collapsed during a fast-paced jive while competing at the World Championships in Canada.'I fainted during the jive because I had no energy. You push yourself but being strong means stepping away from a situation that is toxic and is damaging you. I’ve never gone back [to dangerous eating disorders].' Strictly's Vito Coppola has revealed his crippling bulimia battle caused him to collapse on stage as he opened up about suffering with the eating disorder during his teen years The star said he felt pressure to have the perfect body and was told by judges that his bottom was too big or his legs were too chunky (pictured with Ellie Goldstein on Strictly in 2025) He confessed: 'I did it [threw up his food] for a few months but felt very ashamed. It was a betrayal of my values — I was wasting food. I felt not clean and I didn’t have much love for myself.'Vito, who is set to release his food memoir, Love, Vito, on Thursday, explained his family were confused by his behaviour. Vito explained his mum realised what was happening after she found out that the food parcels she was sending him were going uneaten. He told The Sun: 'I felt guilty because my family were so worried about me but they didn’t know what was really going on. They didn’t know I had a problem.'Vito has since healed his relationship with food and has become known for his cooking skills as well as his dancing. Back in 2024 he was crowned the winner of Celebrity MasterChef as he impressed the judges with his Italian-inspired menu, with his special dessert being just like the one his beloved mother and Nonna used to make.Speaking after his win, the astounded Italian dancer exclaimed: 'I cannot believe it! Look [the trophy] it’s so beautiful.'People think that food is just food, but no, I keep saying food is life. It’s the first love of my life, food, and I cannot just wait to share all of this with my family.'Immediately after his win, Vito called his delighted Nonno (grandfather) to tell him the amazing news, saying in Italian: 'Nonno, I won! I won with your ingredients. I came first! I love you.'Meanwhile Vito is set to return for the upcoming series of Strictly this September after several of his fellow professionals were axed from the line up.Karen Hauer, 44, Gorka Marquez, 35, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, and Luba Mushtuk, 36, have all been given the boot.Previously speaking to The Sun, Vito addressed the multiple exits and issued some advice to his former colleagues. It all came to a head in his early twenties when he collapsed during a fast-paced jive while competing at the World Championships in Canada (pictured winning in 2023 with Ellie Leach) He said: 'In the dancing world, there is this rule that I have personally learnt 'never to be too happy or too sad when something happens'.'It just helps you to keep grounded and keep moving.'Elsewhere, Vito also spoke about his own future on Strictly Come Dancing and what keeps him coming back each year.He shared: 'Strictly became my second family, Strictly is the reason I came to the UK.'For me, it's a special bubble. It's a second family.'I always say some of the pros are closer – like brothers and sisters and some are like cousins, aunties. I like to recreate my familiar environment.'