I'm really astonished at the vitriolic responses to Prescott's confession. We can hardly judge how stressful his job was and it is intolerably cruel to ridicule his disorder. He vented his frustrations through food and purging, which many have poked fun at (with thoughtless pie-related comments), but we have practically accepted people turning to drink in similar situations.

Why is it that some mental disorders or addictions are more palatable (excuse the pun) to public opinionthan others? Bulimia needs to be taken seriously. It is not a matter of greed, it is a cry for help and I applaud Prescott for breaking the silence.

Courtney, Coventry,

Was it aploy to hide "the bad news headlines for the PM"?BULIMIA on the TAX PAYERS ( Can he spell it and say it?)He says he was ashamed just likr the bedding of the young women at the expense of the TAX PAYER. A perfect example of the NEW LABOUR BRAND. And this was our DP!!!!!!

JOHN MASON, CARDIFF, WALES

This is just a publicity stunt for his memoirs and I can't believe the media is pandering to it. It doesn't raise awareness for the many people who are suffering from the very real and life-threatening effects of bulimia.

Ryan, Edinburgh,

Stress Related? what stress. perhaps it was his double life with his secretaries.
If he couldn't take his position he should have stood down, for the sake of the country, he fouled up everything he did.
No sympathy from me

mike , cyprus,

Q. How do you win over a disgruntled electorate after spending four grand of taxpayer's cash on condensed milk?

A. Say you have bulimia (for added verisimilitude, be thin).

B James, Reading, Berks

As Director of the Eating Disorders Network, Northern Ireland. I am so glad that Mr Prescott has the strength to come forward and disclose his eating disorder. Not only is he now able to be treated more effectively himself, but he will encourage many others (men and women) to come forward and move from isolation and shame. The awareness now that you do not have to be underweight to suffer from eating distress - yes even bulimia - is thankfuly dispelling common misinterpretations about eating disorders and their symptoms and who sufferers 'are'.

Eva McAlea, Co. Down, Northern Ireland

Two-Jags Two-Houses Zero-Effect Prescott wants to help bulimia sufferers by publicising his memoirs... Yeah right.

Duncan, Bristol, UK

I am amazed by peoples ignorance on the matter of bulimia. many people have this disorder and go on having it in secret because unlike anorexia you can maintain a healthy weight throughout. This is why it goes unnoticed and undiagnosed for years. I take great offence to the statement comparing bulimia to piggish habits. Its remarks like this that could send any sufferrer back into turmoil and the routine of eating and purging. I have nothing but respect for anyone overcoming bulimia and applaud anyone able to speak publicly about the condition.

Mary, Edinburgh,

If in telling the world he suffered from Bulimia that he hopes to help people surely he would have been better off in doing it whilst he was in government or in actually being proactive in helping this country's mental health service. I have suffered from eating disorders (bulimia included) for years now. I have tried to get help many times. Doctors immediately put you on anti-depressants and then after a 3 month wait I was assessed as to whether or not I was deemed ill enough to go on another waiting list for therapy. 18 months later and I was allowed my alloted 8 weeks of NHS therapy. After that I was on my own or stumped with private sessions at £40-60 per hour.

So great, he's let the world know and hopes to encourage people to seek help' by doing so, but perhaps he should just cut the cr*p and be honest that this is merely self-promotion for his new book and post MP career?

Jasmina, London,

"Not to be too cynical, but aren't Bulimia sufferers usually, like anorexics, underweight? "

Actually bulimics are more likely to be overweight than underweight, just one of many misconceptions the general public have about eating disorders.

I sincerely hope that those belittling Mr Prescotts achievement in admitting his bulimia never experience this soul destroying illness, although if they did maybe they would be able to see the strength of character it took for him to a) recover b) admit it to millions.

Sarah, York,

Failing to admit that you are unfit to carry out your task is a serious misdemeanour for a driver, a criminal offence for a captain of a ship or an airliner – so why does the second most senior politician in Great Britain believe that his vanity and his ego were more important than the well being of the nation.

Brian Christley, Abergele , UK

Does he actually think anyone cares? This is one of our self obsessed self serving politicians who could not string two words together, and got himself into a position of power. He did not care about the people he was serving. Did he not blow £4000 on groceries AT OUR EXPENSE? As fas as I am concerned, this is self inflicted and it is just annoying that it was not all self funded.

Harry, St Albans,

I couldn't care less about this man and his piggish habits, not only does he have his nose in the trough figuratively he has it there literally.

Albert Hall, kettering,

I think John Prescott should be applauded for his courage in admitting to this condition. As a former sufferer of an eating disorder I know how hard it can be to reveal something like this and I had the "advantage" of fitting the classic sufferer profile. For someone in such a public role to openly admit this is to be commended.

My opinion of Mr Prescott has gone up considerably since this came out and I hope his actions encourage more sufferers to seek help.

Clare, Worcester,

I am sorry for anyone suffering from any illness including Bulimia, but John Prescott would have made a bigger impact
on other sufferes had he announced his illness earlier - he did so on other issues. Some people may hink there is some kind of political deception going on - like clearing the decks before Prescott enters the House of Lords

Rodney Barker, Gainsborough, England UK

Not to be too cynical, but aren't Bulimia sufferers usually, like anorexics, underweight?
Usually the overeating is followed by excessive purging and exercising.
Perhaps it's more a case of compulsive overeating, which I don't deny exists, but why no one has picked p on these glaring anomalies is beyond me.

sandie, grangemouth, central scotland

I dont think john Prescott has or ever had Bulimia, Alzhiemers yes, bulimia No! I'm afraid stuffing your face with pies and cakes all day doesn't make you bulimic. Mind you, I cant beleive this story is given so much web space, I mean who really cares what two faced, two Jag, double standards Prescott has to say.

cc, liverpool, uk

Whilst I agree its impossible to criticise him for making a stand for bulemia affected people, I would have had some respect if that was all he had done and made a success of it instead of being the utter waste of pensioners tax money and the destruction he caused in the ODPM. A man who claimed 4k in food expenses when pensioners can't afford to heat their homes frankly is not worth sympathy

john G, london, uk

Heres a tip Prezza when you see a table covered in food the idea is to eat just enough to sustain you but if you notice food coming out of your ears after the seventh pork pie leave the table because that normally means your stuffed. Theres one thing for sure our old age pensioners will never suffer from this so called disease as they have all on trying to put food on the table. Anyway what was this battle he was fighting in Bolivia all about?

Cromwell, Leeds, England