Anyone can be impacted by eating disorders, regardless of their status or level of influence. Some well-known figures like Demi Lovato, Zayan Malik, and Taylor Swift have spoken publicly about their experiences with eating disorders and have attributed their condition to the pressure to conform to unrealistic standards. While others have overcome this disorder, others are still battling to overcome.
Even though the word ‘eating’ appears in the name, eating disorders are not just related to eating. These are complicated mental health issues that frequently need to be changed by the involvement of professional medical and psychiatric personnel.
There are many different kinds of eating disorders, so it’s vital to clarify this before we talk about famous people who have them. Anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, bulemia nervosa, and pica are a few prevalent ones. Although there is a strong emphasis on eating in all types, the symptoms differ. The symptoms associated with eating disorders include severe restriction of food and food binges among others.
15 Superstars That Have Battled Eating Disorders
1. Demi Lovato
32-year-old Demi Lovato has been vocal about her eating disorder recovery for almost a decade. The singer and actress started binge eating at the age of nine, and when she was in her teenage years, she acquired bulimia. According to Lovato, she was working out three times a day, just after her meals. She added that there were moments when it felt like she was living at the fitness center.
Demi has also said that she was bullied before her first stint in rehab at the age of 18. Not monitoring her weight and simply donning pants that fit her comfortably have been additional components of Lovato’s recuperation journey. Her nutritionist suggested that embracing her body would be a more effective healing strategy than advocating for her body positivity. Over time, her platform has been utilized to promote rehabilitation and awareness of mental health issues.
2. Lady Gaga
American singer, songwriter and actress, Lady Gaga has been frank about her battles with bulimia and anorexia when she was a teenager. The performer claims that when she was fifteen years old, she struggled with bulimia and anorexia. Since then, she has embraced body acceptance and urged her followers to follow suit. She has also commended Taylor Swift for talking about her eating condition in 2020.
3. Zayn Malik
The former member of One Direction, Zayn is also another entertainer who has experienced an eating disorder. His comes from feeling compelled to maintain a specific look while he was in the band.
In his memoir Zayn, he talked about his struggle with compulsive eating while he was a member of One Direction. He said that the demands of being a celebrity and the unrelenting attention caused him to adopt bad eating habits, such as going days without eating. Malike subsequently stated that he resolved his problems by going back to Bradford, UK, to be looked after by his mother. In his words,
Once I got over the control, the eating just came back into place, super naturally. I came back to the UK and spent some time with my mum and got some TLC, and she cooked me food and I got back in touch, mentally, with a lot of the things I’d lost
The musician also acknowledges that he has battled anxiety in the past, but he claims that discussing his issues in public has helped him get over them.
4. Portia de Rossi
Known for works like Ally McBeal (1998–2002), and Nip/Tuck (2007–2009), Portia is an Australian-American retired actress who has shared her experience with anorexia nervosa and bulimia, detailing how her eating disorder affected her mental and physical health.
In her memoir, Unbearable Lightness, which was released in 2010, de Rossi talked about her struggles with self-esteem, body image, and her path to anorexia recovery.
In public appearances and interviews, Portia de Rossi has promoted mental health awareness by sharing her personal experience and emphasizing the value of getting help for eating disorders.
5. Russell Brand
Russell has established himself as a comedian, actor, presenter, activist, and campaigner. But while he enjoyed the glitz of the spotlight, he also battled an eating disorder. During his youth and early career, the comedian and actor battled bulimia. In his 2017 autobiography, Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions” Brand talked about his struggles with substance abuse and his early experiences with bulimia nervosa.
According to him, his struggles with addiction and disordered eating were interconnected, with both stemming from underlying emotional and psychological issues. He has also used his platform to advocate for mental health awareness, addiction recovery, and self-acceptance.
6. Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales, opened up about her battles with the eating condition bulimia nervosa while she was married to Prince Charles. She explained in interviews and public appearances how her eating condition was worsened by personal problems in her marriage and the demands of living as a princess.
Diana’s full disclosure about her bulimia was groundbreaking at the time since it lessened the stigma associated with mental health concerns and increased public understanding of eating disorders. She took advantage of her position to push for increased acceptance and assistance for people who suffer from eating disorders.
Many people are still motivated by Diana’s bravery in revealing her bulimia experiences, and her efforts have raised awareness and provided support for those facing comparable difficulties.
7. Jane Fonda
The well-known American actress, writer, and fitness expert Jane Fonda has been candid about her battles with eating problems. In her 2005 autobiography My Life So Far, Fonda discussed her struggles with anorexia nervosa and bulimia at different points in her life.
She further detailed how her eating disorders were intertwined with her struggles with body image, self-esteem, and perfectionism. The actress spoke about how her public persona as a Hollywood star exacerbated these issues, leading her to engage in rather unhealthy eating habits and destructive behaviors.
Apart from discussing her struggles in her memoir, the actress has also used her platform to advocate for mental health awareness and promote positive body image. She has been vocal about the importance of seeking help and support for eating disorders and other mental health issues. Moreover, Fonda’s willingness to share her story has helped raise awareness about the prevalence of eating disorders and the importance of addressing mental health issues with compassion and understanding.
8. Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift disclosed her experiences with an eating disorder in a 2020 Netflix documentary, Miss America. Swift said that she often starved herself to the point that she felt as if she might pass out during her live performances. The entertainer further said that she would make a list of everything she ate, exercised constantly, and shrank significantly.
Following her process of recuperating, she now fights the urge to be critical about her body because according to her, it’s better to think you look fat than to look sick. In her words,
I don’t think you know you’re doing that when you’re doing it gradually. There’s always some standard of beauty that you’re not meeting. Because if you’re thin enough, then you don’t have that ass that everybody wants, but if you have enough weight on you to have an ass, then your stomach isn’t flat enough. It’s all just fucking impossible.
9. Jeannie Mai
The TV broadcaster and design expert Jeannie Mai has also spoken about her history of eating disorders. She discussed her struggle with bulimia in her book The Power of I Am: Two Words That Will Change Your Life Today. In the book, she discussed how she dealt with the demands of the entertainment industry and the problems she encountered with her body image.
She said her journey to recovery was characterized by self-acceptance. She also emphasized the importance of seeking help and support for eating disorders and mental health issues.
10. Kesha
In 2014, the American singer and songwriter, Kesha Rose Serbert checked into rehab to seek treatment for an eating disorder, which she later revealed was bulimia nervosa. Just like many other celebrities, she attributed her struggles with body image and the pressure to maintain a certain image in the music industry.
Kesha became an advocate for body positivity, self-acceptance, and mental health awareness after obtaining treatment. She has been open about her road to recovery and has encouraged others to use her platform to get treatment if they are experiencing similar problems.
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11. Candace Cameron Bure
The actress Candace Cameron Bure, who is well-known for playing D.J. Tanner in the sitcom Full House and its follow-up Fuller House, has discussed her battles with bulimia in her 2011 memoir, Reshaping It All.
Bure explained in her book how, as a teenager, her fixation with food and her perception of her body contributed to the development of bulimia. She further talked about the psychological and emotional aspects of her illness, as well as her path to recovery.
Bure has pushed for body positivity and mental health awareness ever since she shared her experience. By using her platform, she has advocated for a healthy and balanced approach to food and body image and encouraged others who are facing similar problems.
12. Shawn Johnson East
Shawn Johnson East, the Olympic gold medalist gymnast also battled eating disorder during her gymnastics career. In her book Winning Balance: What I’ve Learned So Far about Love, Faith, and Living Your Dreams, published in 2012, she revealed her battle with an eating disorder, specifically, with disordered eating patterns and body image issues.
Johnson East said the intense pressures of gymnastics, combined with the scrutiny of her body and performance, contributed to her struggles with food and body image. She shared her journey towards recovery and the importance of seeking help and support.
13. Paula Abdul
The singer, dancer, and television personality Paula Abdul has been open about her battles with eating disease bulimia nervosa. She talked about her struggle with bulimia in her memoir, Paula Abdul: Forever Fit: The Story of Forever Yours.
Abdul discussed how her eating disorder developed during her early years as a dancer and intensified as she became more successful in the entertainment industry. She shared her experiences with bingeing and purging and the toll it took on her physical and emotional health.
Paula Abdul speaks about her road to recovery and serves as an advocate for mental health awareness. She has advocated for others to seek treatment and assistance if they are experiencing similar problems.
14. Zoë Kravitz
In a 2015 interview, Kravitz revealed that she had eating issues in high school, referring to bulimia and anorexia as ‘awful diseases. She started therapy after her parents found out about her condition. She has since recovered but said that she is very vigilant.
15. Gabourey Sidibe
Renowned for her parts in television shows like Empire and the movie Precious, Gabourey Sidibe has also been open about her battles with binge eating disorder. She has discussed her struggles with body image and self-esteem as well as her encounters with BED in public.
In her 2017 memoir This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare, Sidibe opened up about her struggles with BED and how they had an impact on her life. She also talked about how she came to embrace herself and learn to appreciate her body.
Other Celebrities Known to Have Battled Eating Disorders
1. Katie Couric
- Profession – Journalist
- Kind of disorder – Bulimia
2. Stacy London
- Profession – Stylist, fashion consultant, author, and magazine editor
- Kind of disorder – Anorexia
3. Lily Collins
- Profession – Actress
- Kind of disorder – Anorexia
4. Lucy Hale
- Profession – Actress
- Kind of disorder – Anorexia
5. Troian Bellisario
- Profession – Actress
- Kind of disorder – Anorexia
- Profession – Actress, activist, podcaster and television host and judge
- Kind of disorder – Anorexia
7. Mel C
- Profession – Singer, songwriter and DJ
- Kind of disorder – Anorexia
- Profession – Singer and songwriter
- Kind of disorder – Anorexia nervosa
9. Zosia Mamet
- Profession – Actress and musician
- Kind of disorder – Anorexia
10. Ireland Baldwin
- Profession – Fashion model
- Kind of disorder – Anorexia and bulimia
11. Hilaria Baldwin
- Profession – Yoga instructor, entrepreneur, podcaster, and author
- Kind of disorder – Anorexia and bulimia
12. Gabourey Sidibe
- Profession – Actress
- Kind of disorder – Bulimia
13. Lily Collins
- Profession – Actress
- Kind of disorder – Anorexia and bulimia
14. Alexa PenaVega
- Profession – Actress
- Kind of disorder – Bulimia
15. Tallulah Willis
- Profession – Fashion designer and child actor
- Kind of disorder – Anorexia
