When Jazz Jennings first opened up about her weight gain in 2021, she took to Instagram to share before and after photos of her significant transformation. “As many of you have noticed, over the past few years, I have gained a substantial amount of weight,” she wrote in her post. “I suffer from binge-eating disorder, a disease in which I’m not only addicted to food, but I eat it in large quantities.”
Jennings revealed that her weight gain began around two years earlier, spanning from a combination of binge eating and an increase in appetite due to the medication she was taking. Over nearly two years, the TLC star admitted to gaining nearly 100 pounds, something she said she’s had a hard time coming to terms with. “I’m ready to change my ways; I’ve been saying I’m ready to turn over a new leaf, but I’m running out of trees now,” she explained.
The “I Am Jazz” star admitted that she surrounded herself with a team of close friends and family, as well as health experts, who helped her address the problem. Still, she told her fans that she planned to hold herself accountable despite her support system. “… At the end of the day, I have to be the one committed toward bettering myself,” she clarified. The post marked the beginning of Jennings’ journey to health and wellness, one she said she wanted to share with the world. “Love you all, and thanks for understanding the battle I’m fighting to win,” she concluded.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please contact the National Eating Disorder Association’s Helpline at 1-800-931-2237 or chat with one of their helpline volunteers on NEDA’s website.
