Jameela Jamil Spoke Out About Recovering From An Eating Disorder In The Public Eye And In "An Industry That Hates Women"

    "They were the saddest, hungriest years of my life."

    Kristen Harris
    by Kristen Harris

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Warning: This post contains mention of eating disorders and suicide.

    Actor and activist Jameela Jamil is known for advocating against photoshopping and airbrushing pictures and calling out other celebrities for promoting things like weight loss products.

    dressed in a bold suit adorned with flowers, Jameela poses with her hand on her hip on the red carpet
    Todd Williamson / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

    Jameela also led a campaign for stricter content regulations regarding body image on Facebook and Instagram, which led to the platforms blocking posts about diet and detox products from minors.

    sitting on stage, Jamila speaks into a microphone
    Rachel Murray / Getty Images for Create & Cultivate

    Her passion for helping others protect their body image comes from a personal place.

    Dressed in a studded blazer with sharp, dramatic winged eyeliner, Jameela gives a small smile on the red carpet
    Axelle / FilmMagic / Via Getty

    Recently, she opened up about her experience with an eating disorder and recovery while in the public eye, sharing a photo from 2010 and writing, "I rarely really smiled during this time, not just because I was so consumed with anorexia that I thought my FACE LOOKED TOO ROUND when I fucking smiled."

    She said the post was her "annual apology to [her] younger self for forcing her into a smaller box, and in turn reducing everything good about her life for the approval of other people. For the approval of an industry that hated/hates women."

    on a press tour, Jameela holds her hands in front of her in a sleeveless, ruffly dress
    John Sciulli / Getty Images for Turner

    "I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was being obedient. I thought it would [make] me happy. They were the saddest, hungriest years of my life."

    Addressing her followers, she continued, "Please don’t be like me. Don’t waste your life. Don’t waste your precious time and your joy. Run towards recovery. Block: mute: delete: repeat ANYTHING OR ANYONE that makes you feel bad about the body you are meant to have."

    She also called out how detrimental "trolling" people over their bodies can be.

    at the Grammys, Jamila poses on the red carpet with her hands on her hips, and her bold eyeshadow matches her sleeveless, pleated gown
    Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for The Recording Academy

    She said, "I reiterate how sad it was that I was slowly killing myself while seeing other women in my industry, bigger than me, MUCH healthier/active/nourished/livelier than me, being trolled over their poor health/laziness."

    She concluded her post with a serious reminder: "Eating disorders are the highest cause of death of any mental health issue."

    Paul Archuleta / FilmMagic / Via Getty

    "Fuck the people who profit from this."

    I'm grateful for Jameela's openness and the work she's doing to challenge harmful beauty standards.

    with her hand on her hip on the red carpet, Jameela wears a sparkly, zebra print gown with a deep V neckline
    Rodin Eckenroth / FilmMagic / Via Getty

    The National Eating Disorders Association helpline is 1-800-931-2237; for 24/7 crisis support, text “NEDA” to 741741.

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org. The Trevor Project, which provides help and suicide-prevention resources for LGBTQ youth, is 1-866-488-7386. You can also text TALK to 741741 for free, anonymous 24/7 crisis support in the US and UK from the Crisis Text Line.