Popstar Bebe Rexha has admitted criticism of her weight gain after being diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was “tough”.
The 33-year-old was talking to Jennifer Hudson on The Jennifer Hudson Show when she revealed the diagnosis led to a 30lb weight gain over the past year.
And she went on to say seeing comments on her latest TikTok videos mentioning the weight “messed” with her.
Unhappy with what was being said, the singer told Hudson: “We’re in the public eye so that’s bound to happen especially as I was a lot thinner and I gained some weight, but that comes with the territory.
“I’m not mad about it because it was true.”
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The Brooklyn-born singer said she found herself looking at the comments after noticing “Bebe Rexha weight gain” was trending on social media platform TikTok.
Rexha added: “But when you see things like that it does mess with you. You don’t know what somebody is going through, you don’t know what they’re going through in their life.
“So it kind of is tough. But we’re in 2023 and should not be talking about people’s weight.
“I like to eat. And I went to the doctor last year and they diagnosed me with PCOS.
“It’s one of the leading causes of why women gain weight. And I literally jumped 30lbs.”
PCOS affects one in 10 women. The NHS says it is related to abnormal hormone levels in the body, including high levels of insulin.
It can cause irregular periods, excess androgen – high levels of “male” hormones in the body – and polycystic ovaries. Women with two of the three symptoms can often be diagnosed with PCOS.
The interview with Hudson is not the first time Rexha has spoken about the condition. The Baby I’m Jealous singer also opened up on Gayle King’s SiriusXM show.
She said: “I definitely struggle with my weight and I struggle with the way that I look, and it’s been tough for me. I just found out recently that I have PCOS and a lot of women have it.”