'I was absolutely devastated': Zara McDermott reveals she was told by eating disorder sufferers her weight loss posts were 'triggering' and admits she considered quitting social media

• e-mail

Zara McDermott has revealed she was left 'devastated' when eating disorder sufferers told her that her weight loss posts were 'triggering'.

The former Love Island star, 25, said she had never worried about her body or counted calories until cruel trolls branded her a 'fat whale', leading to her losing weight.

She then documented her three-stone weight loss with pictures shared to Instagram in 2020, but was accused of triggering anorexia and eating disorders with her posts.

Upset: Zara McDermott (pictured in September) has revealed she was left feeling 'devastated' when eating disorder sufferers told her that her weight loss posts were 'triggering'

Now, Zara has said she was reduced to tears after being told by teenagers suffering with eating disorders that her posts were 'triggering' as she admitted the critics were right.

She said she was 'devastated' to learn she could be seen as being 'part of the problem' as she spoke to sufferers while filming her new documentary Zara McDermott: Disordered Eating.

'I was absolutely devastated to hear that,' she told The Sun. 

'I didn't know where to go from there, because I don't want to hurt anyone and it's so easy for anything you post to be perceived in the wrong way.

Upset: The former Love Island star (pictured in 2020), 25, said she had never worried about her body until cruel trolls branded her a 'fat whale', leading to her losing weight 

'I didn't know whether to walk away from social media entirely, but I think all I can do is learn and listen and do my best.'

Zara said it was speaking to teenage patients at the Schoen Clinic Newbridge in Birmingham during filming that changed her perspective on her social media posts.

The TV personality said one young person told her she was 'beautiful' before her weight loss and that her posts could be damaging to young women struggling with eating disorders.

She admitted it was 'hard to hear' and said she felt 'really upset' afterwards but said influencers have a 'duty' to be responsible with their content, saying she never wanted to make the same mistake again.

Posts: She then documented her three-stone weight loss with pictures shared to Instagram in 2020, but was accused of triggering anorexia and eating disorders with her posts 

Zara also spoke to the publication about how cruel trolls had affected her self esteem, saying she felt 'horrendous' after they branded her as 'fat'.

She admitted she started to believe the mean online comments, leading to her making changes to her diet and exercise regime, dropping from a healthy size 10 to a size six.

Speaking about her decision to share her transformation pictures on social media, Zara said it felt like a 'middle finger' to the trolls and that she was 'proud' of herself.

At the time, Zara defended herself against those calling her posts triggering but admitted she has now learnt not to post certain content, such as detailing what she eats in a day, because it can be 'damaging' to others.

Learning: Now, Zara has said she was reduced to tears after being told by teenagers suffering from eating disorders that her posts were 'triggering' as she admitted the critics were right

Zara said she has ditched calorie-counting posts and tries not to give her followers a 'picture perfect' look at her life but be more candid and 'balanced' with her day-to-day posts. 

In her BBC Three documentary, Zara looks at the shocking rise in Meanspo sites, where young people sign up to be told they are 'fat' to 'inspire them to lose weight.

She revealed that within minutes of creating an account on TikTok, she was bombarded with posts promoting anorexia and 'thinfluencers'.

Zara said she wants her new documentary to encourage social media platforms and other influencers to tackle the problem and not 'perpetuate' eating disorders.

If you need help or support for an eating disorder, please call Beat on 0808 801 0677 or visit www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk.

Changes: Zara said she has now ditched calorie-counting posts and tries not to give her followers a 'picture perfect' look at her life but be more candid and 'balanced' with her posts