Taylor Swift’s Struggle with an Eating Disorder - BALANCE Eating Disorder Treatment Center™ (2024)

Taylor Swift has frequently struggled with her body image, particularly with not feeling skinny enough, and would often avoid looking at pictures and videos of herself in the media. If she happened to catch a glimpse of a tabloid or paparazzi photo where her body was visible, it would immediately trigger unhealthy thoughts about her body image: “I looked like my tummy was too big, or… someone said that I looked pregnant … and that’ll just trigger me to just starve a little bit.” She admitted that it was difficult to talk about her eating disorder, as she didn’t feel like the most qualified individual for articulating what the experience of having an eating disorder was like. However, she did admit that even if she didn’t feel knowledgable enough to talk about eating disorders, she was the only one who could tell her story and help her audience relate to or empathize with her.Swift explained some of the symptoms she experienced with her eating disorder that interfered with her performances, even when she wasn’t aware that an eating disorder was the source of her obstacles. She admitted, “I thought that I was supposed to feel like I was going to pass out at the end of a show, or in the middle of it.” She later realized that it was not normal to feel disorientated and weak — she was suffering from malnourishment. Anytime someone expressed concern about her low weight, she would tell them that she was simply exercising and assured them that she was eating well. In reality, she would constantly make excuses to avoid eating. No matter how skinny Swift got, she never felt like she could attain the beauty standards defined by the beauty industry and diet culture, leading to a constant cycle of shame.Over time, Swift learned how to find balance in her life and overcome her eating disorder. She stated that while it’s impossible to simply ignore all of the comments said about her, she could choose which opinions she felt would encourage and motivate her instead of fixating on the judgments that would tear her down. This simple mindset switch has helped her maintain a more positive image of herself. Learning to balance life, work, and the stresses that come with both was also significant in Swift’s recovery. She emphasized that it’s not realistic to expect to learn how to manage all of these responsibilities in a short amount of time and that it often takes years to truly find balance in your life. She expressed how happy she is now that she has recovered and has a positive image of herself.While Swift shared some common symptoms that she experienced on her eating disorder journey, below are some additional signs and symptoms to be aware of:

• Fluctuations in body weight
• Dizziness and/or fainting
• Muscle weakness
• Fine hair on the body
• Menstrual irregularities
• Extreme methods to control caloric intake such as restricting food, inducing vomiting, taking many diet pills, and more
• Preoccupation with body image and food
• Showing discomfort around food or eating in public
• Constantly trying new diets
• Frequent excercise

If you or someone you know is exhibiting these symptoms, it’s time to seek help. Simply opening up or helping someone you know open up to a trusted individual about their eating disorder is an important starting point — recognizing that there is a problem is the first step in the right direction. From there, you can meet with a certified eating disorder specialist, HAES informed clinician, or schedule a consultation at an eating disorder treatment center to support you on your journey to recovery and help you figure out the proper treatment plan needed for your situation.BALANCE eating disorder treatment center treats the spectrum of eating disorders, including Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder, compulsive overeating, and other distorted eating behaviors and body image issues. Currently, we are offering a range of virtual programs and services which involve nutrition counseling, eating disorder therapy, and meal support. BALANCE offers clients four distinct levels of care to meet their specific treatment needs, including a day program, weeknight program, step-down groups, and individual nutrition services. BALANCE is proud to offer an array of free and low-cost virtual webinars and resources to help those struggling with eating disorders, distorted eating, and body image concerns. Click the button below to learn more about our virtual programs and services.

Looking for eating disorder treatment programs or services in the New York City area? Learn more about our options at BALANCE eating disorder treatment center here or contact us here.

References

“Warning Signs and Symptoms.” National Eating Disorders Association, 6 Feb. 2020, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/warning-signs-and-symptoms.Willman, Chris. “Taylor Swift Opens Up About Overcoming Struggle With Eating Disorder (EXCLUSIVE).” Variety, Variety, 31 Jan. 2020, variety.com/2020/music/news/taylor-swift-eating-disorder-netflix-documentary-miss-americana-1203478047/.