Fatima Sana Shaikh has opened up about a painful and personal struggle while promoting her new film Gustaakh Ishq with Vijay Varma. The actress shared that she has been dealing with bulimia, an eating disorder that has affected her relationship with food and her mental health for years. Her journey began after Dangal, where she had to gain weight to play a wrestler. But even after the film ended, her battles with food continued.
Fatima Talks About Her Love-Hate Relationship With Food
Fatima spoke about her struggle during an honest chat on Chapter 2 with Rhea Chakraborty. She said, “I have had a love-hate relationship with myself, and I’ve been addicted to a certain image of myself. I’ve had a toxic relationship with food. I put on weight in Dangal because I had to. When I’m goal-oriented, I’d do everything. I was training for three hours, so I had to consume 2,500-3,000 calories every day for me to gain weight. When the movie got over, I wasn’t training as much, but I was still having 3,000 calories because I was used to it.”
She revealed that she battled bulimia for two years. She said, “My understanding of diet was so rigid. That I have to consume only these many calories in a day. Even now, I think about food all the time. I’m always hungry. But I’ve gotten awareness of it because that unhealthy relationship has been changing for years.”
Fatima shared that food became her escape. “Food became my comfort space. I could eat nonstop for hours. I hate myself because I have no control. I operate in extremes. Just a couple of days ago, I kept eating for two hours. Then I’d go in starve mode. In fact, it was so disabling that I wasn’t stepping out of the house.”
She recalled how her friend and Dangal co-star Sanya Malhotra pointed out the issue. That moment made her realise the mental impact of what she was doing. Fatima said, “Then I felt shame. I felt I’m doing something that’s not right. It’s damaging my mental health.” She also thanked screenwriter Rahul Mody for helping her adopt a healthier routine.
The actress added, “Overeating isn’t the issue. But the issue is in you because you’re insecure and eating your feelings. You just want to be numb. It’s like doomscrolling. You feel nauseous by the end of it.”
She said all her struggles were happening inside her mind. “It’s just that you’re weak in the mind. Whenever someone has a mental health disorder, everything seems fine on the outside. All the demons and dark thoughts are within you, and you’re dealing with them all by yourself.”
What Exactly Is Bulimia?
Bulimia nervosa is a serious eating disorder. It can affect a person’s physical, emotional and social life. Many people live with it for years without asking for help.
Common symptoms may include:
Fear of gaining weight
Binge eating large amounts of food
Feeling out of control while eating
Vomiting on purpose or over-exercising after binge eating
Is Bulimia Curable?
Experts say there is no sure-shot way to prevent bulimia, but early support helps. Healthy eating habits and realistic attitudes towards weight can reduce the risk. Treatment can take months or even years, depending on severity. The NHS notes that recovery is possible with the right support.
Some people with bulimia remain at a normal weight, while others may become overweight. Treatment can include therapy, counselling, and medications like SSRIs, which help reduce binge and purge episodes.
