Ben's bulimia storyline | TW eating disorders, bulimia

#EastEnders #Ballum
TW eating disorders, bulimia, rape
Here's a compilation to demonstrate that this is an ongoing storyline for Ben. His habit of avoiding eating/purging appears to have been triggered by his sexual assault and break up with Callum.
He's also been shown to be highly affected by what other people say in regards to his appearance. This is not an exhaustive list but should demonstrate why this story wasn't "given" to Ben, as it's been going on for nearly a year, and it isn't new either.
Help and support are available at beateatingdisorders.org.uk

[@kit5050]

I hadn’t noticed that Ben was struggling for a long time, thank you for putting this video together

[@beccacostelloe04]

Same here I hadn't realised it went back a whole year ago😮😢

[@BallumOfficial]

Poor Ben's been struggling for a while 💔

[@BallumOfficial]

Also, thank you for watching!

[@beccacostelloe04]

@@BallumOfficial No bother🧡. Anything related to Ben I'm interested at looking at, he's like my fav in EastEnders with Stacey too!

[@lawrence5584]

While it breaks my heart to see this happening to Ben, it once again shows EE isn't afraid to tackle issues like this. It's especially important because, like rape, eating disorders are often considered "a woman's disease", and thus men suffering from it are treated as attention seekers or drama queens. It also showcases that what Ben has gone through hasn't just magically disappeared as the story was completed. The traumas he has experienced will ripple through his life.

[@BallumOfficial]

Well said. 1 in 4 ED sufferers are male, yet this issue is rarely highlighted in media. Hopefully this will bring more awareness to the issue.

[@bjoxers]

i didnt even notice all of these... i just want them to be happy for a moment 😭😭😭

[@eggman37]

Bulimia is the most common eating disorder in men. As a sufferer myself it brakes my heart seeing it happen so often

[@darrenrodneysales5973]

This storyline for Ben has been over a number of years. and it good that it has been brought to the forefront of the show. There is a lot of publicity about bulimia in women but not much about it in men

[@BallumOfficial]

It's not quite that long. But you can see the turning point last year after he was assaulted. Hopefully it'll spread awareness about ED in men.

[@darrenrodneysales5973]

@@BallumOfficial Totally Agree.

[@angelaholmes8888]

I hope this storyline will help others who are also struggling 🙏

[@jayyharper3679]

I knew this storyline was coming up and I hadn’t even seen it anywhere 😢

[@moodyjenny86]

Random. But isn't the actress playing his mom the same as Jason Roscoe's mom on Hollyoaks... He also had an eating disorder storyline. Also, thank you for putting these clips together !

[@BallumOfficial]

You're welcome. And you're right! Gillian Taylforth joined Hollyoaks after she left EE. 😊

[@briandbedford4178]

Thanks for showing us Ben's problem...but hasn't he got enough on his plate right now?

[@BallumOfficial]

It's a trauma response to what's happening in his life.

[@moodyjenny86]

Is EE going to continue this storyline at all? Or has it been dropped? Asking for a friend of course !

[@BallumOfficial]

Yes, it has been continuing since this and will continue.

[@Mel_Lou_03]

Part 2 ?

[@BallumOfficial]

This was just to show that Ben's story has been going on for a while. It's not intended to include every scene that features his ED symptoms.

[@kevinhickey3515]

It was a feeble attempt to cover the disease......It came and went overnight. Desperate scripts...........

[@BallumOfficial]

It didn't though. There was over a year of build up and it continued until he left.