Sylvester Stallone struggled with an eating disorder: 'Couldn't keep anything down'

In a recent interview with The New York Times, actor Sylvester Stallone revealed that he suffered from an eating disorder while preparing for the film Rocky III. During that period, he was obsessed with maintaining an extremely low body fat percentage of 2.6 percent, which made it difficult for him to keep any food down. He admitted that he relied on doping to achieve these physical standards, noting that the regimen took a significant toll on his health. He only began to ease these strict requirements after his role in the 1997 film Cop Land.

Now 80 years old, Stallone acknowledges that maintaining his current fitness levels still requires the use of medication and regrets performing many of his own stunts. These reflections are part of his upcoming autobiography, The Steps, which is scheduled for release in late September. In addition to discussing his physical struggles, the book covers his difficult childhood, including experiences with an abusive father, though he chose to limit details to avoid seeking pity.