Sasha Pieterse's Health Struggle: Weight Gain Ignored
Sasha was just 12 years old when she was cast in Pretty Little Liars, and she went on to star in the series until her early twenties. While playing an "It girl" on the mysterious Freeform/ABC Family drama, Sasha was also battling unexplainable and painful symptoms within her body.
During a recent interview on the She MD podcast, the 29-year-old actor spoke candidly with hosts Mary Alice Haney and Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi about dealing with seizures and PCOS, gaining 70 pounds rapidly, and how her voiced concerns to doctors weren't taken seriously.
'I really started struggling with something, I didn't know what it was,' Sasha said. "I had also just been diagnosed with epilepsy, which nobody knew until very recently. So I was dealing with seizures with no cause... No idea what the cause was, and I started gaining weight.'
Despite having irregular periods that started at the age of 10, Sasha believed they would ultimately end up regulating themselves, but eventually turned into a big health issue.
'I started Pretty Little Liars when I was 12 and by 17, I had gained 70 pounds and was silently battling seizures, irregular periods, acne, and hair loss, while playing an 'it girl' on TV.'
'I went to 17 different gynecologists. They all said I was just eating too much or not exercising enough, even though I was doing everything right. If I ate more salads, I would've turned green.'
Although many doctors tried to blame her weight gain on poor lifestyle choices and habits, Sasha would later meet one who took her pleas into consideration. The married mother of one (Sasha shares 4-year-old Hendrix Wade with her husband Hudson Sheaffer) was later diagnosed with PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
PCOS is described as a hormonal disorder that affects people with ovaries, usually during their reproductive years. It occurs when the body produces higher-than-normal levels of androgens (male hormones), which can interfere with ovulation and cause a range of symptoms. The cause of PCOS is still unknown.
'I tried not eating,' she continued. 'I would go through waves of depression. I had body dysmorphia and disordered eating, but it wasn't changing what I looked like. If anything, it was getting worse. I got told I was crazy, or that I was doing something wrong so many times. But I kept advocating for myself, and that's how I finally got an answer.'
'Once I got the diagnosis, not only was that so validating... I'm not crazy, there is actually something that's going on with me, now I have a label. Now I know that there are steps I can take to try and regulate it and move forward.'
It took nearly 10 years for The Image of You star to receive a proper diagnosis, and it took quite a toll on her mental and physical health as she was living out her teenage years in the public eye.
Sasha is now taking the steps she needs to keep her PCOS in line.
To learn more about Sasha, you can watch her full She MD podcast interview below:
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Newsweek
3 minutes ago
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Doctors Spend 5 Years Telling Her To Lose Weight—Then Diagnosis Arrives
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Garcia poses in the mirror, flexing her arm muscles, left; and shows her physique before weight gain, right. Garcia poses in the mirror, flexing her arm muscles, left; and shows her physique before weight gain, right. Jackie Garcia/TikTok/@jae_so_fierce Weight Gain and Dismissal From Doctors Eighteen months later, Garcia weighed 100 pounds more, prompting her to visit her primary care physician for the first time. "She suggested working out and eating healthy," Garcia said. "This was crazy for me as I was a gym rat. I already knew how to lose weight and stay healthy. I took her advice, but the symptoms worsened." Garcia, who lives in Houston, Texas, soon began experiencing cramps around her menstrual cycle, cold sweats, and vomiting. "The next year, I had my blood work done and was told to exercise again—despite having the same symptoms and my weight not dropping," Garcia said. A Suspected PCOS Diagnosis From left: Garcia gained 100 pounds and, here, she can be seen before and after the tumor was removed. From left: Garcia gained 100 pounds and, here, she can be seen before and after the tumor was removed. Jackie Garcia/TikTok/@jae_so_fierce In 2019, Garcia began to suspect she might have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—a hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. "I was getting rashes on my face, acne, and lots of pressure on my uterus," Garcia said. She saw a gynecologist, who prescribed a weight-loss pill and again suggested exercise. "I didn't take the medication," Garcia said. "I was trying to find a solution because I still had the same symptoms. "By 2021, my stomach was hard and I lost my appetite. I couldn't eat more than a fistful of food," she added. Seeking another opinion, Garcia went to a different gynecologist, who performed an ultrasound. "They couldn't find my ovaries," Garcia said. "It was weird, but I didn't know if it was because I am plus-size. Eventually, they found one and said perhaps I had excess wind that day. I was diagnosed with PCOS, prescribed birth control, and told to work out again." Feeling Like a 'Hypochondriac' Five years after her first symptoms, in 2023, Garcia—then 31—began experiencing numbness in her legs. Yet when she returned to her primary care physician, she said she was left feeling like a hypochondriac. "I told her I felt like I was in a daze for two weeks, and she said it's anxiety," Garcia said. "I started to question myself and thought I was a hypochondriac. "For almost five years, something was off. I started to feel crazy. At that point, I had a pregnancy belly." The Shocking Discovery Unbeknownst to Garcia, she was carrying a 20-pound tumor in her stomach. It wasn't until later that year, after starting a new job as a compensation specialist, that she found out the truth. With new insurance and access to workplace doctors, Garcia decided to voice her symptoms one final time. "The doctor did a CT scan for peace of mind, but ended up finding a tumor," she said. Blood tests confirmed it was retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLS), a very rare type of cancer that grows in the retroperitoneum, the deep area of the body behind the abdominal organs. It originates from fat tissue and can grow quite large before being detected. Lifesaving Surgery The 33-year-old told Newsweek: "I felt relieved because I trusted myself and my intuition, but I was also emotional to learn it was cancer. The tumor was wrapped around my colon and uterus, attached to my kidney, and pressing on my stomach and liver." Measuring 25 inches in length, it could be removed only through surgery. Garcia said: "I had big abdominal surgery in December 2023 with an amazing doctor and team from MD Anderson. They prepared me for the worst and said I could lose organs. "Thankfully, they removed it all without any complications, and I didn't need chemotherapy. "I am still in physical therapy today," she added. Raising Awareness Online Two screenshots from the viral clip showing Garcia cuddling her dog, left; and sitting in a hospital, right. Two screenshots from the viral clip showing Garcia cuddling her dog, left; and sitting in a hospital, right. Jackie Garcia/TikTok/@jae_so_fierce On August 15, Garcia shared her story on TikTok (@jae_so_fierce), explaining how she repeatedly voiced concerns about her stomach, only to be told by six doctors to lose weight and exercise. The next slideshows Garcia ahead of surgery in the hospital, with text reading: "20+lb tumor [and] sarcoma. Cancer at 31." The slideshow, captioned "IT WAS CANCER," quickly went viral, racking up over 500,000 views and more than 38,000 likes at the time of writing. Garcia saidthat she hopes her story encourages others to advocate for themselves. 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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
"I Got Told I Was Crazy": Sasha Pieterse Opened Up About Gaining 70 Pounds And Doctors Ignoring Her Health Concerns
Sasha Pieterse is opening up about battling multiple medical issues behind closed doors, and being ignored by the people meant to help her. Sasha was just 12 years old when she was cast in Pretty Little Liars, and she went on to star in the series until her early 20s. While playing an "it girl" on the mysterious Freeform/ABC Family drama, Sasha was also battling unexplainable and painful symptoms within her body. Related: During a recent interview on the SHE MD podcast, the 29-year-old actor spoke candidly with hosts Mary Alice Haney and Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi about dealing with seizures and PCOS, gaining 70 pounds rapidly, and how her voiced concerns to doctors weren't taken seriously. 'I really started struggling with something, I didn't know what it was,' Sasha said. "I had also just been diagnosed with epilepsy, which nobody knew until very recently. So I was dealing with seizures with no cause... No idea what the cause was, and I started gaining weight.' Despite having irregular periods that started at the age of 10, Sasha believed they would ultimately end up regulating themselves, but eventually turned into a big health issue. 'I started Pretty Little Liars when I was 12 and by 17, I had gained 70 pounds and was silently battling seizures, irregular periods, acne, and hair loss, while playing an 'it girl' on TV.' Related: 'I went to 17 different gynecologists. They all said I was just eating too much or not exercising enough, even though I was doing everything right. If I ate more salads, I would've turned green.' Although many doctors tried to blame her weight gain on poor lifestyle choices and habits, Sasha would later meet one who took her pleas into consideration. The married mother of one (Sasha shares 4-year-old Hendrix Wade with her husband Hudson Sheaffer) was later diagnosed with PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Related: PCOS is described as a hormonal disorder that affects people with ovaries, usually during their reproductive years. It occurs when the body produces higher-than-normal levels of androgens (male hormones), which can interfere with ovulation and cause a range of symptoms. The cause of PCOS is still unknown. Symptoms include irregular or absent periods, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, acne or oily skin, excess hair growth on the face or body (hirsutism), thinning hair or hair loss on the scalp, fertility challenges, and ovaries that appear enlarged or have multiple small cysts. Believe it or not, PCOS is actually pretty common, impacting as many as 1 in 10 women. If it isn't managed, it can raise the risk of things like infertility, type 2 diabetes, heart issues, and even some cancers. The good news? With the right treatment and lifestyle habits, most people with PCOS are still able to live healthy, full lives. 'I tried not eating,' she continued. 'I would go through waves of depression. I had body dysmorphia and disordered eating, but it wasn't changing what I looked like. If anything, it was getting worse. I got told I was crazy, or that I was doing something wrong so many times. But I kept advocating for myself, and that's how I finally got an answer.' 'Once I got the diagnosis, not only was that so validating... I'm not crazy, there is actually something that's going on with me, now I have a label. Now I know that there are steps I can take to try and regulate it and move forward.' It took nearly 10 years for The Image of You star to receive a proper diagnosis, and it took quite a toll on her mental and physical health as she was living out her teenage years in the public eye. Related: Sasha is now taking the steps she needs to keep her PCOS in line. To learn more about Sasha, you can watch her full SHE MD podcast interview below: The National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline is 1-800-950-6264 (NAMI) and provides information and referral services; is an association of mental health professionals from more than 25 countries who support efforts to reduce harm in therapy. The National Eating Disorders Association helpline is 1-800-931-2237; for 24/7 crisis support, text 'NEDA' to 741741. Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Solve the daily Crossword
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Buzz Feed
Sasha Pieterse's Health Struggle: Weight Gain Ignored
Sasha Pieterse is opening up about battling multiple medical issues behind closed doors, and being ignored by the people meant to help her. Sasha was just 12 years old when she was cast in Pretty Little Liars, and she went on to star in the series until her early twenties. While playing an "It girl" on the mysterious Freeform/ABC Family drama, Sasha was also battling unexplainable and painful symptoms within her body. During a recent interview on the She MD podcast, the 29-year-old actor spoke candidly with hosts Mary Alice Haney and Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi about dealing with seizures and PCOS, gaining 70 pounds rapidly, and how her voiced concerns to doctors weren't taken seriously. 'I really started struggling with something, I didn't know what it was,' Sasha said. "I had also just been diagnosed with epilepsy, which nobody knew until very recently. So I was dealing with seizures with no cause... No idea what the cause was, and I started gaining weight.' Despite having irregular periods that started at the age of 10, Sasha believed they would ultimately end up regulating themselves, but eventually turned into a big health issue. 'I started Pretty Little Liars when I was 12 and by 17, I had gained 70 pounds and was silently battling seizures, irregular periods, acne, and hair loss, while playing an 'it girl' on TV.' 'I went to 17 different gynecologists. They all said I was just eating too much or not exercising enough, even though I was doing everything right. If I ate more salads, I would've turned green.' Although many doctors tried to blame her weight gain on poor lifestyle choices and habits, Sasha would later meet one who took her pleas into consideration. The married mother of one (Sasha shares 4-year-old Hendrix Wade with her husband Hudson Sheaffer) was later diagnosed with PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. PCOS is described as a hormonal disorder that affects people with ovaries, usually during their reproductive years. It occurs when the body produces higher-than-normal levels of androgens (male hormones), which can interfere with ovulation and cause a range of symptoms. The cause of PCOS is still unknown. 'I tried not eating,' she continued. 'I would go through waves of depression. I had body dysmorphia and disordered eating, but it wasn't changing what I looked like. If anything, it was getting worse. I got told I was crazy, or that I was doing something wrong so many times. But I kept advocating for myself, and that's how I finally got an answer.' 'Once I got the diagnosis, not only was that so validating... I'm not crazy, there is actually something that's going on with me, now I have a label. Now I know that there are steps I can take to try and regulate it and move forward.' It took nearly 10 years for The Image of You star to receive a proper diagnosis, and it took quite a toll on her mental and physical health as she was living out her teenage years in the public eye. Sasha is now taking the steps she needs to keep her PCOS in line. To learn more about Sasha, you can watch her full She MD podcast interview below:
