LOS ANGELES – October 14, 2015 — (UPI) — Actress and singer Victoria Justice revealed she has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder which causes her weight to fluctuate and skin to break out.
Speaking with Health magazine for their latest issue, the 22-year-old former Nickelodeon actress said doctors diagnosed her with Hashimoto’s — a thyroid disorder — “a few years ago,” and she has since been living with its effects.
Hashimoto’s can interfere with the body’s thyroid function, affecting metabolism and thus causing rapid weight gain or weight loss. “At first, I was losing a lot of weight, then I went on tour and I started gaining weight,” Justice said. “It was the most I’ve ever gained in my life. I was, like 115 pounds. Then when I filmed a movie last summer, I actually went under 100 pounds. It was crazy, but things have leveled out, and I’m back to normal.”
The actress said although her fluctuating look prompted insecurity, she is thankful for her family and friends for being her support. “I knew that the people around me had my back,” she explained. “Now I really empathize with people who have issues with their skin, because it can get you down.”
