Fatima Sana Shaikh Opens Up About Bulimia and Her Toxic Relationship With Food

Actor Fatima Sana Shaikh, known for her powerful performance in Dangal, has spoken openly about a difficult and personal chapter of her life. She revealed that she struggled with bulimia for a long time and that her relationship with food had become “toxic.” Fatima shared her experience on Rhea Chakraborty’s podcast Chapter 2 on November 17. She said that although she looked confident on the outside, she was silently fighting an emotional and physical battle that many people did not know about.

Fatima explained that her struggle began shortly after she finished working on Dangal. For the film, she had to eat a very high-calorie diet of 2,500–3,000 calories daily and train heavily to match her wrestler character. Even though the film ended, her eating habits stayed the same while her training routine became lighter. This created an unhealthy pattern. She shared that food slowly turned into her comfort, and she often kept eating for hours without stopping. At the same time, she said she felt disappointed in herself because she felt she had lost control over her own body and habits.

Her struggle became more complicated as she moved between two extremes. Some days she binged on food, eating far more than her body needed, while on other days she starved herself completely. Fatima said she felt scared to leave the house because she feared losing control and bingeing again. Her relationship with food became strict, confusing, and deeply unhealthy. She said she thought about food all the time, and this constant worry made her feel trapped.

It was her Dangal co-star Sanya Malhotra who first noticed that something was wrong. Sanya gently spoke to her about her eating patterns and helped her realise that these were signs of an eating disorder. Fatima remembered feeling ashamed when she understood what was happening to her. She said it was a tough time emotionally because she felt she had failed herself. Slowly, she realised that the problem was not only about eating but also about stress, pressure, and mental health.

Experts say bulimia is a serious eating disorder that needs immediate care. In a 2022 interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Vrushali Bichkar from Motherhood Hospital in Pune explained that bulimia involves repeated episodes of overeating followed by purging. This purging may happen through forced vomiting or through extreme workout sessions meant to burn off the calories. The person may feel guilt, stress, or fear around food. Common signs include stained teeth, cuts or marks on the hands from vomiting, sudden changes in weight, and irregular menstrual cycles. People with bulimia also often hide their eating habits because they feel embarrassed or scared.

Fatima’s decision to speak openly is important because many people suffer from eating disorders silently. They may feel ashamed or believe nobody will understand them. By sharing her journey, Fatima hopes people will realise that they are not alone and that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. She said her healing journey is still ongoing, but she now understands her body better and treats herself with more kindness.

Her story also highlights the pressure many actors face to look a certain way. Constant expectations about appearance can harm mental health, especially when combined with strict diets or heavy workloads. Fatima said she felt pressure to maintain a certain image, and this added to her anxiety. She now believes that balance, self-care, and mental health are more important than trying to fit into unrealistic standards.

Fatima’s experience sends a strong message about the need for awareness and compassion. Eating disorders are not always visible, and many people hide their struggles. Talking openly, as Fatima has done, helps break the silence and encourages others to seek help. Her journey shows that recovery is possible with support, understanding, and patience.