Hayden Panettiere’s Battle With Body Dysmorphia (VIDEO)
Hayden Panettiere reveals that she battled with body dysmorphia in her teens. In an interview with Women’s Health, the 23-year-old Nashville actress speaks out about her early body issues.
“I was mortified,” admits Panettiere after a tabloid published a photo of her backside with the word ‘cellulite’ scrawled across it. The actress was 16 years old at the time. “It gave me such body dysmorphia for so long. But I remember reminding myself that beauty is an opinion, not a fact. And it has always made me feel better.”
The 5-foot-1 actress has come a long way since those days. Although she keeps fit with Bikram yoga classes and regulary takes the stairs, she doesn’t follow a particular diet. “Eating healthy is a constant battle,” reveals Panettiere. “I love chips. I find when I’m overly concerned about what I eat, I stress out my body and put on weight.”
She also maintains that being happy is vital to staying healthy. ”People can tell when you’re happy with being you and when you’re not. It’s only cheesy because it’s true,” she tells Women’s Health. “As I’ve gotten older and grown into my body, I’ve started realizing that the way you carry yourself and that light coming out of your eyes are the most attractive things about you.”
