The 26-year-old TikTok star opened up to her followers about her eating disorder and why she’s seeking treatment.
TikTok star Remi Bader shared some personal news with her followers on Tuesday: She’s seeking treatment for binge eating. The 26-year-old will be doing hours-long outpatient treatment several times a week, she revealed in a TikTok video, adding that she hopes to share what she learns with her followers.
"The past few months, I almost started feeling that things are getting worse for me — how I feel about myself, my body, my confidence, and obviously a lot of that has to do with my binge eating," she said in the clip, explaining why she decided to seek treatment.
The creator and model has been thinking about getting treatment for a while, noting that her condition, which she's been open about on TikTok in the past, has "gotten to a point where it's not getting any better." She struggles the most when she's by herself, Bader shared. "It's more those feelings that I have about myself when I'm alone with myself...I should feel the best when I'm alone — I shouldn't feel the best just based on what other people are thinking about me and through this app," she said.
Bader's ability to be honest about what she's going through with her large audience, which tallies up to more than 2 million followers on TikTok, could make a difference for others, according to experts.
"Eating disorders thrive in isolation," says Samantha DeCaro, PsyD, director of clinical outreach and education at the Renfrew Center. "When someone with a large following opens up about having an eating disorder, it can be a catalyst for connection and conversation, especially for those who are feeling hopeless and suffering alone. It might inspire someone to reach out for help and start their own recovery journey," she adds.
"Eating disorders, in particular, and mental health issues as a whole still carry a lot of stigma — people will make negative comments or assume that someone should be able to fix this on their own," says Jena Shaw Tronieri, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology in psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and director of clinical services at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders. "Having someone express that they're struggling really can reduce the stigma and shame," she adds, calling Bader's honesty "admirable."
But talking about the issues isn't enough. Seeking proper treatment is crucial, according to Dr. Tronieri. "Across all of the eating disorders, it can be really challenging to change behaviors on your own," she says. "We find that people that seek treatment are much more likely to recover and recover faster than individuals that are trying on their own."
