Camila Mendes Opens Up About Her Struggles With An Eating Disorder

content warning: this article discusses eating disorders.

Riverdale's Camila Mendes is looking unreal as Shape magazine's November cover star, and the actress got incredibly candid with the publication in the accompanying interview.

Cami opened up about her past struggle with bulimia, which she sought therapy for a year ago.

 

 

 

 

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november issue of @shape on stands 10/16! 🌺 photo by @peggysirota

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“I’ve struggled with bulimia. It happened a little bit in high school and again when I was in college. Then it came back when I started working in this industry with fittings all the time and watching myself on camera," she said.

She added: "I had such an emotional relationship with food and anxiety about everything I put into my body. I was so scared of carbs that I wouldn’t let myself eat bread or rice ever. I’d go a week without eating them, then I would binge on them, and that would make me want to purge."

The star went on to reveal that she wouldn't eat for five hours if she ate a sweet, and she was even worried about healthy food.

 

 

 

 

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"'Did I eat too much of the avocado? Did I have too many fats for one day?' I was consumed with the details of what I was eating, and I always felt as if I was doing something wrong," she said.

The actress says that much of her anxiety has gone since she sought help from a therapist about a year ago: "She recommended a nutritionist as well, and seeing both of them changed my life. So much of the anxiety I had about food went away when I started learning more about nutrition."

Now Cami finds inspiration from the likes of Rihanna, who is a strong advocate for body positivity.

 

 

 

 

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"I’m seeing all these people who I look up to, like Rihanna, open up about their weight fluctuations and loving themselves the way they are. That makes me love myself more too," she said.

- Rachel Davies-Day

If you, or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Headspace.