Country singer Sara Evans gets candid about her time in the spotlight, admitting she suffers from an eating disorder as a result.
The 53-year-old opened up about her struggles during a recent episode of the podcast “Sex, Lies, And Spray Tans” hosted by Cheryl Burke.
Ms. Burke, a former “Dancing With The Stars” pro, is no stranger to being in the public eye and questioned the singer on how she handles the opinions of others. She confessed that what other people say bothers her more than it should.
“It bothers me, it does. Yes, I won’t say that it doesn’t. I have an eating disorder … I’m more scared of being fat than anything in the world. And that’s not good. That’s not normal,” said Ms. Evans.
The singer, best known for her signature hit “Born To Fly,” said she began suffering from body dysmorphia at an early age, with the condition worsening throughout her career.
Anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were just some of the side effects Ms. Evans has had to overcome, stemming as early as 8 years old. In her 2020 memoir, Ms. Evans said a car crash that almost cost her life in the 80s sent her into extreme depression.
As time went on, the country artist became a self-proclaimed people-pleaser, especially performance-based. Not only was she critical of putting on a good show, but her appearance as well.
“If I’m skinny and I’m pretty and I did a good show, then I’m loved … and I want to feel loved no matter what,” she said.
Ms. Evans, a mother of three, felt the outside pressure from those within her inner circle to lose weight, even after having her children.
“Every time I had a baby, they would be like, ‘When’s she gonna lose weight?’” she said. “So things like that would just get in my head.”
The body dysmorphia did not stop at self-doubt for the Missouri native, as the singer further elaborated it impacted how she viewed herself from the outside. She would spend time reading offensive comments made by listeners of her podcast and obsess about what was said.
“I was reading comments on one of my podcasts the other day, and somebody goes, ‘What happened to your face?’ And that bothered me all day long, all day long, and I just wanted to respond like, how dare you?” she said.
Body Dysmorphia
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition characterized by an excessive fixation on perceived flaws in one’s appearance. Often magnified by the individual, these flaws are typically not noticeable to others or are seen as minor.According to the Mayo Clinic, people with the condition develop an intense focus on appearance and may feel embarrassment or shame. As a result, it can cause symptoms from anxiety and stress to depression and eating disorders. This can lead those affected to avoid social situations and impact their ability to function in their daily lives.
It is still unclear what exactly causes BDD, but it can affect both men and women of all ages. The UK’s National Health Service says BDD is most common in teenagers and young adults, with treatment ranging from cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, and seeking support from others.
