Celebrity Eating Disorders & Disordered Eating: Stories & Struggles

The conversation surrounding eating disorders is often shrouded in silence, but a growing number of public figures are bravely stepping forward to share their experiences, challenging stigmas and offering hope to those who are struggling. Celebrities opening up about eating disorders and their journeys to recovery is helping to normalize these conversations and highlight the seriousness of these often-fatal illnesses. National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAW), which concluded on March 1, served as a catalyst for many to speak out.

The National Institute of Mental Health defines eating disorders as “serious and often fatal illnesses that are associated with severe disturbances in people’s eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions.” These disturbances can manifest in various ways, including binge-eating, restricting food intake, or purging after eating, all accompanied by significant concerns about body weight. The pressures of Hollywood, with its intense focus on appearance, have made it a particularly challenging environment for maintaining a healthy relationship with food and body image.

Kerry Washington’s Private Battle

Kerry Washington, known for her role in “Scandal” and her generally private life, revealed in her 2023 memoir, “Thicker Than Water,” that she struggled with an eating disorder during her college years. She described a “toxic cycle of self-abuse” involving starvation, binge eating, body obsession, and compulsive exercise. Washington’s willingness to share this deeply personal experience underscores the fact that eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of their public persona or apparent success.

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