Body image is something that many people struggle with, including celebrities. In fact, being in the spotlight might make it worse.
Actress Lisa Kudrow recently opened up about her own struggles with weight and self-esteem while working on Friends.
She talked about the struggle of constantly comparing herself to costars Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston during an appearance on the podcast WTF with Marc Maron.
"Because you see yourself on TV and it's that, 'Oh my God, I'm just a mountain of a girl.'"
"I'm already bigger than Courteney and Jennifer."
"My bones feel bigger. I just felt like this mountain of a woman next to them."
She also talked about intentionally losing weight even though she was at a healthy weight, and this being greeted by frustrating compliments instead of concern over her health.
"Unfortunately for a woman, if you're underweight, you look good and that's all I ever got."
This took a toll on her health, and she was frequently ill during filming.
"When I was too thin, I was sick all the time."
As she has gotten older, Kudrow still struggles with this self-doubt, especially as it relates to aging.
"I have a whole battle all the time."
"I end up with, 'So what? So, all right. You're older. That's a good thing. Why is that a bad thing?'"
She recently told Entertainment Tonight that she doesn't watch Friends if it is on television, though.
"I don't watch it if it's on."
"I might not like myself [on the show], so I'd rather not risk that."
Many on Twitter related to Kudrow' s struggles.
@enews Ugh. My life— Lou the Liti🐊 (@Lou the Liti🐊)1558376854.0
@HuffPost I'm a tall woman and i totally get her. Even though i'm thin, i feel that "mountain" thing whenever i'm w… https://t.co/BPoFY14uun— morrisal (@morrisal)1558388792.0
@enews literally me next to anybody LOLOLOL— hal (@hal)1558379083.0
@enews Story of my life. I always felt like an ogre compared to my friends. Kneeling down in pictures so I didn't t… https://t.co/4kilFAfI0E— One More Denise (@One More Denise)1558389789.0
Some offered words of encouragement.
@TODAYshow Lisa you are beautiful just the way you are!! Listen to Billy Joel. Please know your fans love you just the way you are!!!— neaomie bryan (@neaomie bryan)1558391147.0
@BuzzFeed It's a shame that such a vibrant, talented woman felt her brain's transportation system didn't compare th… https://t.co/AV24oA0vnI— RC (@RC)1558443452.0
Negative body image, and comparing oneself to others, is an extremely common issue that lots of people struggle with.
In a society that prioritizes physical appearance, with thinness as the default, anyone who doesn't fit that ideal can feel like an outsider.
It isn't a subject that is often talked about on a large scale, though, so kudos to Lisa for being open and honest about her struggles.
Having conversations like this are the key to changing the way people think about themselves, and helping people feel comfortable in their own bodies.
