IT'S hard to gauge whether former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's admission that he suffered from bulimia for 10 years has helped or hindered fellow sufferers.

On the one hand, it's achieved plenty of publicity for this and other eating disorders.

But, on the other, such an admission from a portly soul like Prezza just confuses the public.

It does underline that bulimia, in particular, can affect any age, and both sexes.

Unfortunately, this news coming just as his new autobiography is published makes many people believe he's simply trying to fatten up his bank account.