Did Bella Thorne have an Eating Disorder?

In this blog, we will answer the questions, “Did Bella Thorne have an Eating Disorder?”, and also cover what are eating disorders, types of eating disorders, how eating disorders affect one’s mental health, and also answer frequently asked questions. 

Did Bella Thorne have an Eating Disorder?

Well, Bella Thorne has openly talked about struggling with mental health issues, disordered eating, and various other things.

She has talked about her disordered eating but there has not been an official diagnosis that she has shared with the public. But before we delve into that let us understand who she is and all about eating disorders. 

Unrealistic standards of beauty

We all at some point in our lives have stood in front of the mirror and criticized our body for the way it looks. People idealize celebrities for their bodies and looks. 

Sometimes this fondness for one’s look and taking care of one’s health may turn into an unhealthy obsession with one’s body and appearance. 

It can lead to skipping meals in order to obtain the perfect figure. Even for celebrities, the cut-throat competition of beauty does not leave them with many choices. 

Many actresses like Bella Thorne have also openly talked about the dark side of the glamour industry and how it affects their physical and mental health. 

What are eating disorders? 

Eating disorders can be defined as those mental conditions that are caused by problematic eating habits that negatively impact one’s physical health, mental health, and other aspects of life. 

Obsessing over your weight, body shape, and food is common in eating disorders, and it can lead to hazardous eating behaviors. These practices can have a significant impact on your body’s ability to obtain adequate nutrients. 

Eating disorders can harm the heart, digestive system, bones, teeth, and mouth, among other organs, and lead to various health issues.

Eating disorders are most common in teenagers and young adults, but they can occur at any age. Eating disorders affect women more than it affects men statistically. 

With treatment, you can revert to healthier eating habits and, in some cases, completely reverse major food-related issues.

If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.

Types of eating disorders 

Anorexia Nervosa 

The most well-known eating disorder is anorexia nervosa. It usually appears in youth or early adulthood, and it affects more women than males. 

Even if they’re dangerously underweight, people with anorexia perceive themselves as overweight and barely eat food. They tend to keep a close eye on their weight, avoid particular foods, and carefully limit their calorie intake.

Anorexia can be extremely harmful to one’s health. Individuals with it may experience bone weakening, infertility, brittle hair, nails, etc. Anorexia can lead to heart, brain, or multi-organ failure, as well as death, in severe circumstances.

Bulimia Nervosa 

Bulimia nervosa is another well-known eating disorder and even though it is less dangerous and intense than anorexia nervosa, it should not be taken lightly. Bulimia is also most commonly seen in women as compared to men but men also report suffering from it. 

A person with bulimia would commonly consume unusually large amounts of food in a short period of time and after the binge eating episode would purge that food by using laxatives, diuretics, vomiting, etc. 

Each binge eating episode usually lasts until the person is completely satisfied. During a binge, the person usually feels unable to stop eating or regulate the amount of food consumed. 

Binges can occur with any type of food, although they are most common with things that the person would ordinarily avoid.

People with bulimia normally maintain a healthy weight rather than becoming underweight as it is seen in people with anorexia nervosa.

Side effects of bulimia

An inflamed and scratchy throat, swollen salivary glands, damaged tooth enamel, dental decay, acid reflux, stomach irritation, severe dehydration, and hormone changes are all possible bulimia side effects.

Bulimia can also cause an electrolyte imbalance, such as sodium, potassium, and calcium, in extreme situations. A stroke or a heart attack can occur as a result of this.

Impact of eating disorders on mental health

Eating disorders frequently coexist with various mental illnesses, such as:

  • Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
  • ​​Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Social anxiety disorder (GAD)

Anxiety disorders are often present before an eating disorder develops and sometimes the eating disorders can cause anxiety as well. People who suffer from eating disorders are also frequently depressed and have higher standards of perfectionism.

Physical effects of eating disorders 

Eating disorders can have a substantial impact on physical and mental health since a proper intake of nutritionally balanced foods is required for the normal functioning of the body as well as for the psychological wel-being. 

An eating disorder can major physical health impact even if the person is not underweight. Eating disorders have an impact on every system of the body and can result in physical health issues such as:

  • Loss of brain mass
  • Heart and circulatory difficulties
  • Problems with the digestive system (e.g. chronic constipation, gastroesophageal reflux)
  • Dental issues
  • Irregular sleep patterns 

Bella Thorne talks about eating disorders 

Bella Thorne, a former Disney star, actress, and beauty mogul, shared some old images on Instagram. Thorne wasn’t really pleased with the photos of herself from 2016. Thorne revealed she was suffering from disordered eating in the caption.

The 21-year-old admitted that she was too stressed to work up an appetite, resulting in a significant weight loss. Fortunately, the singer was able to return to a weight that she is happy with now.

Bella Thorne released several images in which she appeared to be dangerously skinny, but she did that on purpose.

She said ‘’I don’t feel like a liar anymore”. She feels that lying is the one thing that goes against her principles. She can’t do it, she won’t do it. She felt that she has been lying her entire life. 

People were never able to understand her, her life choices, or the things she said. Everybody was always looking for explanations and she didn’t know how else to explain herself except to start at the beginning.

Thorne has always been candid about her personal life, including her sexual abuse as a youngster, her struggles with acne, and body acceptance. She talked about how she was suffering from disordered eating but she has not revealed that she was suffering from an eating disorder but she was struggling with food, weight, and other issues.

She uploaded something on her IG and the caption read “ This was taken at the end of 2016?-2017? 2018 was about getting my health back…this is what I look like when I’m stressed…. when I’m stressed it’s hard for me to work up an appetite..I’m all about being yourself loving your body yada yada but these photos they make me not love anything about it. 

Looking back on these times and what this biz, and movies and life can do to you and everything along with that. But you know I look at this picture and I’m also proud. I’m so fucking proud because this year I gained all my weight back and more !!!!

And I feel good but I do feel like I need to get back in the gym so I can be healthier in general. Eating the right things (double quarter pounders not included) so my body has the energy it needs to keep moving forward.. keep moving forward.”

Thone has had a rough childhood. She began modeling and performing in TV advertisements at the age of six weeks. Her father died in a motorcycle accident when she was nine years old, leaving her as the family’s sole earner. 

She was cast in Shake It Up, when she was 13 years old, with future Spider-Man star Zendaya. This Disney sitcom paid enough for her mother and siblings to avoid homelessness. On film, she was dazzling, controlled, and apparently on the verge of being fired because she went to the beach in a bikini  

As a result, she was pushed into awful kids movies (Alvin and the Chipmunks, a film called Mostly Ghostly) and mediocre comedies (Blended, The DUFF), all while concealing personal trauma and artistic disappointment. 

All changed in 2017, when she confessed she had been the victim of sexual abuse from the age of six to fourteen. It had been the tragedy hovering behind everything she accomplished for as long as she could remember.

Bella wants her fans to know that feeling insecure is absolutely natural and accepted. It’s critical for women to share their tales, difficulties, and journeys toward self-acceptance and improved health in a world where women are expected to be as thin as possible. She hopes that everyone is able to be more open about their insecurities so that they realise that they are not alone. 

How to recover from an eating disorder?

It takes strength to recover from an eating disorder, but it is achievable with the correct support system in place.

If you are the parent of a child who suffers from an eating disorder, you should seek treatment on their behalf. It’s difficult to support a youngster with an eating disorder, but there are options available. Even if your loved one has an eating disorder and is an adult, you can still play a vital role in their recovery.

Because people with eating disorders frequently deny that they have a problem, family members and significant others are crucial in assisting them. Although recovering from an eating disorder might be difficult and time-consuming, it is surely possible.

All we can do is hope that one day society will arrive at a point where women’s bodies are not scrutinised only for the purpose of controlling them and their self-esteem.

Seek psychotherapy and counselling and also go to see a medical professional to develop a healthy diet plan for yourself and also to consult if you would need any medications to manage your symptoms. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs): Did Bella Thorne have an Eating Disorder?

What counts as an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is a serious mental condition in which food, exercise, and body weight or form become unhealthy obsessions in a person’s life.

What is normal eating behaviour?

Normal eating entails arriving at the table hungry and eating till full. Giving yourself permission to eat when you’re happy, depressed, bored, or simply because it feels good is normal eating. Normal eating consists of three, four, or five meals each day, with the option of snacking in between.

Is Bella Thorne a binge eater?

Bella Thorne has never acknowledged or been documented as being anorexic. She, on the other hand, has been diagnosed with dyslexia since the second grade.

Does Bella Thorne have a handicap?

Bella’s portrayal in the musical is more than just acting since she has struggled with dyslexia her entire life. Watch the video above to find out how Bella’s dyslexia has impacted her life and how she has become a role model and inspiration for children with dyslexia and other learning impairments.

Bella Thorne overcame dyslexia in what way?

Bella Thorne uses acting to help her cope with dyslexia. Her acting has actually helped her with her dyslexia. Thorne’s employment demands her to read scripts on the go on a daily basis, which has forced her to deal with her dyslexia.

Is dyslexia a handicap?

As a result, because dyslexia is a lifelong condition with a major impact on a person’s day-to-day life, it satisfies the definition of a disability and is protected by The Equality Act 2010.

References 

https://cafemom.com/entertainment/bella-thorne-thin-photos/14412-36080-its-rare-to-see-women-talk-publicly-about-how-happy-they-are-to-gain-weight
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/bella-thorne-interview-infamous-disney-sexual-abuse-mental-disarray-a9634566.html
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/common-eating-disorders#binge-eating-disorder
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eating-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20353603
https://www.verywellmind.com/eating-disorders-4157252

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