Glee actress Heather Morris spoke candidly about her experiences with an eating disorder in Thursday’s episode.And you REALLY missed this” podcasthosted by former co-stars Jenna Ushkowitz and Kevin McHale.
Morris shared that her eating disorder developed over time while working on Glee, beginning as an “unhealthy work habit” and eventually escalating during a 2010 concert tour.
“I had developed an eating disorder. I stopped getting my period. I was so in my head about food and what it does for me,” she said. While Morris didn’t disclose the type of eating disorder she experienced, missing a period is often a body’s response to malnutrition.
According to the Mayo ClinicSeveral lifestyle factors can contribute to missed periods – or amenorrhea, which is defined as the absence of one or more menstrual cycles – including low body weight, excessive exercise and stress.
During the call, Morris reflected on her relationship with her late co-star Naya Rivera, who she honored with a memorial tattoo last year.
“I can’t remember exactly what she said, but she approached me about my eating disorder because I know it She herself had eating disorders, and she was very open about it in her book. So obviously she was the first to talk about it,” Morris said. At the time, she wasn’t ready to talk about her eating disorder, and the two didn’t broach the subject again. Still, it left its mark on Morris.
“That’s who [Rivera] was. She was just always willing to talk about it,” Morris said.
Corresponding the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disordersapproximately 28.8 million Americans — or nine percent of the population — will have an eating disorder in their lifetime.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, National Association for Eating Disorders (NEDA) has resources including a 24/7 hotline at (800) 931-2237. For a 24-hour emergency number, text “NEDA” to 741741 or use the click-to-chat help system.