Eiza Gonzalez felt "unsafe" in her "own skin" as she battled body image issues

In a post on Instagram, Eiza marked Eating Disorder Awareness Week by sharing her story. She wrote: "As I begin a new journey with my body for work, it feels like an important moment to recognize how much of a rollercoaster it can be to feel unsafe in your own skin.

"Most of my life my relationship with my body has been complicated. It began at a young age, after my father's sudden death, when I coped with depression by eating compulsively - trying to soothe the pain I hadn't processed.

"By 13, I had gained 30 pounds almost overnight, navigating grief, puberty, and confusion all at once.

"At 15, I was suddenly thrust into the public eye. Every image was dissected, every detail criticized, and everyone seemed to have an opinion about my body, who I was, and who I should be.

"That level of scrutiny naturally fueled deep self-dysmorphia and sent me down a painful path. I became obsessed - constantly weighing myself, measuring my worth in pounds, asking if losing more would make people like me, or make me like myself."

She added: "That approval never came. Instead, the opinions multiplied. What I thought looked like strength - molding myself into what others wanted - was perceived as weakness. I caved to the noise and felt emptier than ever. "

Eiza went on to explain she has recovered but it "hasn't been easy" and her journey is "still ongoing".

She wrote: "The one thing I learned from all this is how powerful the mind can be and how much we can change when we set our will to it. The same energy you put into shrinking yourself, or conforming into the standard can be used to build what you really dream to be.

"Today, as a grown woman, I choose myself. It hasn't been an easy journey, and it's still ongoing. Over time, as my body has carried the weight of my experiences and spoken back to me, my priorities have shifted. Its power now serves a different purpose.

"I've become deeply committed to giving my body love - fueling it with kindness, care, and respect so it can feel happy and fulfilled.

"I'm proud of where I am and of the hard work it's taken to break old patterns. I hope anyone reading this knows that yourself choosing and honoring your body for the right reasons is far more meaningful than trying to be liked by others even ourselves sometimes.

"I don't like to pretend the journey is over, it's hard, complex. But NEVER too late."