Iconic pop singer Taylor Swift recently opened up about her struggles with an eating disorder. Having millions of fans across the globe, Swift’s revelation has sparked widespread attention, including from IFBB Pro Coach Greg Doucette.

Doucette, in his latest YouTube video, addressed Swift’s confession, delving into the media scrutiny she faces. He highlighted statements from her interviews and comments from people who speculated about Swift’s pregnancy due to her visible lower tummy. This speculation deeply affected Swift. She confessed, “When you have 20 Paparazzi outside your apartment, it kind of makes you take ownership of how you look, and you know it’s going to be documented and discussed.” 

Taylor Swift has opened up about the darker side of fame, admitting that constantly seeing photos of herself can trigger unhealthy habits. She confessed, “If someone said that I looked pregnant or something, that’ll just trigger me to starve a little bit, just stop eating.” Doucette responded to Swift’s statement, urging Swift and others facing similar issues to seek professional help.

“If you can’t look at yourself in the mirror, it’s not good. I would suggest you go and talk to someone about it, perhaps a psychologist or a counselor, because body dysmorphia is a real thing,” he advised. Doucette emphasized the need to address these feelings, noting that Swift’s reaction to her own images is a significant issue.

He also pointed out that heavily editing photos to change one’s appearance is problematic in today’s Internet-driven era. Doucette highlighted the intense scrutiny celebrities face and stressed the importance of body positivity. “Life shouldn’t be lived this way. It’s essential to do something about it,” he said.

This is not the first time that someone from the fitness industry has discussed body dysmorphia. Earlier, Derek from More Plates More Dates had shed light on the issue.

Body dysmorphia is a real thing

Citing an example to explain to the audience, Derek showed two photos of David Laid. David Laid is a fitness and bodybuilding enthusiast. In one, Laid wore a t-shirt in normal lighting, looking like an average guy. The other photo, taken at the gym with special lighting, showed Laid flexing intensely, looking extremely muscular.

Derek explained that the drastic difference was due to “lighting and angles.” He pointed out that many people let these perfectly lit, exaggerated images affect their body image. Seeing such photos can mess with your head, making you feel like you need to go to extremes to achieve those results. Derek emphasized that sometimes good lighting can make a normal person look like a bodybuilding pro. Seeing one’s idols in such well-lit and doctored photos is what often triggers body dysmorphia in many.

Taylor Swift’s courage in sharing her struggles underscores the need for self-acceptance. On the other hand, Doucette and others emphasize the importance of mental health and body positivity, urging you not to believe everything you watch online.