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The Vamps star James McVey reveals he had liposuction surgery during battle with body dysmorphia

Danny Thompson
·Contributor
·2 min read
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 25: James McVey of The Vamps performs on stage at The O2 Arena on May 25, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Ollie Millington/Getty Images)
James McVey of The Vamps performs on stage at The O2 Arena on May 25, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Ollie Millington/Getty Images)

The Vamps star James McVey has revealed his body dysmorphia condition led to him getting liposuction surgery on his chest.

The former I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here contestant revealed in a recent interview he had the procedure during a low point of his battle with the condition which saw him obsessing over what he ate and his body.

Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, McVey spoke of the “sinister” reasons behind the surgery, which he had when he was 20.

Read more: James McVey: 'I'm a Celeb' took me back to eating disorder days

The now 26-year-old said of the decision: “It’s one of my biggest regrets that I wasn’t open about it. I was worried it was going to come across as vanity and self-obsession, when it was much more sinister.

“I evaluate every meal that I have. In the early days I would look at the boys and think, ‘How can you have that milkshake in McDonald’s and not feel guilty? How can you have Maltesers in the dressing room?’

“I still have those daily shadows in my mind where I’ll regret eating.”

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JULY 13: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) James McVey, Bradley Simpson, Tristan Evans and Connor Ball of The Vamps pose backstage after meeting fans and signing copies of their new album 'Night and Day' at HMV Birmingham Bullring on July 13, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage)
James McVey, Bradley Simpson, Tristan Evans and Connor Ball of The Vamps at HMV Birmingham Bullring on July 13, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage)

The musician shot to fame with pop rock act The Vamps when he was still a teenager thanks to hits such as Can We Dance, Wild Heart and Last Night.

But McVey’s struggles with his body and food have been consistent, and after his stint in the jungle he revealed that taking part in I’m A Celeb... took him back to the times he struggled.

Talking on Good Morning Britain after leaving the popular show he said: “I think the jungle puts everything into perspective, when everything is stripped away from you, you really figure out who you are and how you tick. I think the jungle taught me a lot of things.

“But seeing before and after pictures made me realise that actually I felt and looked ill when I came out of the jungle, and that’s how I felt and looked when I had my biggest problems with food.

“It took me back to that moment and I thought ‘this is really unhealthy’.”

Watch: James McVey talks abou I’m a Celeb... pal Harry Redknapp