In Netflix's Riverdale, Camila Mendes plays the outspoken, sassy and confident Veronica Lodge. But this week, she explored a more vulnerable side of her IRL self on Instagram, posting about her fraught relationship with food.
Mendes wrote that she recently spoke to a naturopath about her food anxiety and obsession with dieting. In turn, the woman asked Mendes what other things she could be doing if she didn't spend her time thinking about dieting.
Mendes wrote: "I suddenly remembered all the activities I love that used to occupy my time. At some point in my life, I allowed my obsession with being thin to consume me, and I refused to make room in my mind for any other concerns."
She went on to write that she's "sick of the toxic narrative" that the ideal body is a thin body and that she's officially #DoneWithDieting. In the post, she tagged Project HEAL, a non-profit that provides support to people suffering from eating disorders.
Mendes has been consistently open about her experience with mental health and announced her partnership with Project HEAL back in October. She's also spoken about her decision to see a therapist and her experience being in the entertainment industry while recovering from an eating disorder.
In one Instagram post, she wrote, "Our minds can get so contaminated with endless images of perfection, and even if you don't suffer from an eating disorder, it can't hurt to incorporate a little body positivity into your routine."
What to Read Next
See Mendes' most recent post and read her full caption, below:
When did being thin become more important than being healthy? I recently went to a naturopath for the first time in my life. I told her about my anxiety around food and my obsession with dieting. She phrased a pivotal question in such a way that struck a chord with me: what other things could you be thinking about if you didn't spend all your time thinking about your diet? I suddenly remembered all the activities I love that used to occupy my time. At some point in my life, I allowed my obsession with being thin to consume me, and I refused to make room in my mind for any other concerns. Somehow I had stripped myself of all the pastimes that brought me joy, and all that was left of me was my anxiety around food. My passion for education, cinema, music, etc. — all the interests that used to occupy my mind — had been eaten away by my desire to be thin, and it made me miserable. I'm done believing in the idea that there's a thinner, happier version of me on the other side of all the tireless effort. Your body type is subject to genetics, and while eating nutrient-dense foods and exercising regularly will make you healthier, it will not necessarily make you thinner, and the current system fails to make that distinction. I'm sick of the toxic narrative that the media consistently feeds us: that being thin is the ideal body type. A healthy body is the ideal body type, and that will look different for every person. I'm #donewithdieting - join me in this movement and share your story!
Beat promotes awareness and understanding of eating disorders, also challenging inaccurate stereotypes and stigma. Find out more at Beat's website. Beat's helpline for those aged 18 and over is 0808 801 0677, and there's also a dedicated Youthline for those under 18 – 0808 801 0711.
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Madison is the former Digital Deputy Editor at ELLE.com, where she also covered news, politics, and culture. If she’s not online, she’s probably napping or trying not to fall while rock climbing.
