Monica Seles Battled Binge Eating

Filed under: Food and Nutrition, Celebrities and EntertainmentAnorexia nervosa and bulimia might be the conditions that first come to mind when you think of eating disorders. But tennis great Monica Seles fought a nine-year battle with a lesser-known issue, binge eating disorder. Seles turned to food as a way to cope through two tragic incidents -- the death of her father and being stabbed in the back by a Steffi Graf fan while competing in 1993. Seles said, "Food became my best friend. I was lonely and I would just eat. It was my coping mechanism. Food was how I dealt with stress."In time, Seles' unhealthy relationship with food caught up to her and she packed on 35 pounds. Seles talks about her battle with binge eating disorder in her book, "Getting a Grip." She says she finally realized she had beaten her disorder when she competed on "Dancing With the Stars" and was able to take harsh criticism without turning to food.