Mental Health

Why Kate Winslet Kept Her Eating Disorder a Secret

By Corazon Victorino | Update Date: Mar 26, 2024 12:54 AM EDT
Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet | (Photo : Andrea Raffin/Wikimedia Commons)

Kate Winslet has finally addressed a past struggle that she opted to keep a secret for so long. 

In a recent interview with The New York Times, the Hollywood actress revealed her previous struggle with an eating disorder, noting the intense public scrutiny surrounding her weight during her early career.

The 48-year-old star opened up about enduring years of weight-related commentary and criticism, especially after rising to fame with the blockbuster hit "Titanic" in 1997.

"I felt like I had to look a certain way or be a certain thing, and because media intrusion was so significant at that time, my life was quite unpleasant," the Oscar winner explained. 

"Journalists would always say: 'After Titanic, you could have done anything and yet you chose to do these small things'... and I was like: 'Yeah, you bet your f***in' life I did!"

Winslet's revelation came after learning about the rising popularity of the weight loss drug Ozempic, which intrigued her during the interview. 

Hearing about Ozempic's off-label use as a weight loss medication, Winslet expressed shock and disbelief, particularly at its appetite-suppressing effects, per the Independent.

This prompted the "Labor Day" star to reflect on her own experiences with body image issues and disordered eating.

Winslet disclosed that she opted to keep her eating disorder a secret because compliments about her appearance were often tied to weight loss, perpetuating the harmful connection between beauty and thinness.

However, Winslet now takes a firm stance against discussing her weight and refuses to engage in conversations about it.

"I never told anyone about it," Winslet told the outlet. "Because guess what -- people in the world around you go: 'Hey, you look great! You lost weight!' So even the compliment about looking good is connected to weight."

After going through what she did when she battled an eating disorder, Winslet now encourages others to challenge harmful beauty standards and prioritize self-care and acceptance.

© 2023 Counsel & Heal All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Join the Conversation

Real Time Analytics