Ireland Baldwin Reveals Her Experience With Anorexia: ‘It Took Me a Long Time to Find Self Love’
This week, model Ireland Baldwin shared a series of posts on her Instagram Story in which she revealed her past experiences with disordered eating. Despite the pressure of having her body in the spotlight—and the constant deluge of unwanted feedback on it—she said that she has since developed a much healthier relationship with food and herself.
Baldwin, 22, said she ultimately concluded that all the "pain and destruction" she put her mind and body through "wasn't worth it."
"I battled with many eating disorders and body issues as a younger girl and it took me a long time to find self love and acceptance! Trust me, all of that pain and destruction I inflicted on myself wasn't worth it. Turning down so. Many. Sides. Of. Fries. Wasn't worth it!!" Baldwin wrote, according to People.
Baldwin also used to read people's comments about her body when she first started modeling. And "anytime anyone told me I was too tall or too fat to have done a job," she explained, she would engage in restrictive eating, purging, and exercising behaviors.
She also shared a few photos taken, apparently, while she was dealing with disordered eating. "Annorexia [sic] throwback," she wrote alongside one smiley shot of herself. On another photo showing her standing on a beach in a bikini, she wrote, "NOPE."
Eating disorders are probably more common than you realize—and they have to do with way more than food.
It's estimated that 20 million women and 10 million men will have an eating disorder at some point in their lives, according to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). In many cases, eating disorders co-occur with other mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. Although recovery is a long and challenging process, it is not impossible with proper treatment, which usually includes specialized therapy and, sometimes, medication.
Baldwin ended on a powerful note of advice to her followers, writing, "Love yourself!! You are beautiful!! Enjoy your food. Eat ice cream with your friends! Workout and eat healthy to take care of your mind and body but find your healthy balance! Life is too short."
If you or someone you know is at risk or experiencing an eating disorder, resources are available through NEDA or contact their phone helpline at 800-931-2237 or their text crisis line by texting "NEDA" to 741741.
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