Madison De La Garza, the younger half-sister of Demi Lovato, has revealed she developed an eating disorder in response to criticism about her appearance as a child actor on TV drama ‘Desperate Housewives’. The actress said she was affected by people criticising her in online comments to the point that she would “starve” herself, and would read them for hours despite not being allowed to use a computer unsupervised. De La Garza later realised that people who said they were “concerned for her health” were using it as a cover for criticism of her looks.
Actress Madison De La Garza shared that she developed an eating disorder at a young age after facing criticism for her appearance on “Desperate Housewives” when she played the adoptive daughter of Eva Longoria’s character.
Madison De La Garza, known for her role as Juanita Solis on the hit ABC series ‘Desperate Housewives,’ revealed on the “Heart of the Matter” podcast that she developed an eating disorder at a young age due to criticisms of her appearance. De La Garza said that people claimed they were “concerned for her health,” which she believed was just an excuse to criticize a six-year-old. Despite not being allowed to use a computer unsupervised, De La Garza spent hours reading comments about herself online, which were often “atrocious,” including some that wished for her death.
De La Garza revealed that these cruel comments “definitely affected [her] mental health” and contributed to her developing an eating disorder. She said that she knew Eva Longoria, who played her mother on the show, understood her pain and “went out of her way” to make her feel special and beautiful. De La Garza explained that Longoria was aware that the storyline of her thin mother having an opposite-looking daughter would affect her and that they had never discussed it explicitly.
De La Garza’s revelation highlights the harmful effects of body shaming and the need for people to be mindful of how their words and online comments can affect young minds. As a society, we need to promote body positivity and acceptance, as well as educate people on the damaging effects of eating disorders. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) can provide help and support for those battling eating disorders, and we encourage anyone struggling or know someone who is to seek help from them or other professional resources.
It is important to know that eating disorders affect people of all genders, races, and ages, and prevention and early intervention are vital in treating them. Let us all strive to create a safe and accepting environment where everyone can feel loved and appreciated, regardless of their appearance.