Former Hollyoaks actress Steph Waring has bravely shared the harrowing details of her 25-year battle with anorexia, revealing she was once told she would die unless she gained weight. The 47-year-old star, best known for playing Cindy Cunningham on the Channel 4 drama, described how her eating disorder began at just 10 years old, fueled by comments on her weight loss.
A Lifelong Struggle with Anorexia
In a candid YouTube clip, Waring recounted the severe warnings she received as a teenager. "At 15 I was told that I may as well get run over by a bus because I was going to die any day," she revealed. "I was under four stone and I was scared." Her fixation on weight loss escalated into a dangerous exercise addiction, with her working out three times daily and forcing herself to sprint up and down stairs 100 times.
Waring eventually dropped to a perilously low weight of under 4st before being rushed to medical professionals. "The doctor confirmed that I had anorexia and I did think finally a label," she said. "I rapidly wasted away. I had no friends and I was a shadow of my former self. My personality was non-existent. This is what people don't see when they glamorise thinness."
From Childhood Insecurities to Recovery
Describing herself as a 'chubby child' who was often called 'fat' by peers, Waring explained that she overcame her troubled relationship with food six years ago. She now shares body positivity content on Instagram, using her platform to promote healthier attitudes toward body image.
Menopause and Implant Removal Decision
In a separate health revelation, Waring disclosed that she recently had her breast implants removed due to debilitating menopause symptoms. Speaking in an Instagram video, she explained that despite there being 'nothing wrong' with her implants, she was determined to eliminate 'anything foreign' from her body after entering perimenopause at age 43 and experiencing menopause at 45.
"I've gone through an array of debilitating symptoms and I just feel like I need have a fighting chance of feeling like me again," she shared. "So unfortunately I have to say goodbye to these (implants). If someone is going through the same thing just know that you are not alone."
A Personal Choice for Health
Waring emphasized that her decision was deeply personal and not meant to influence others. "I'm not here to tell anyone what they should do with their body," she wrote alongside her post. "I'm simply sharing what felt right for me, especially after going through early menopause and feeling like I've been fighting against my body for too long."
The actress, who has two daughters - Mia, 19, and Lexi, 15 - previously revealed that she opted for breast implants to increase her size to a D-cup after the birth of her youngest daughter, stating it helped boost her self-esteem at the time. Now, she views the explant surgery as a step toward simplifying her body's burdens and starting fresh.
Waring is currently resting and healing at home, expressing gratitude to the medical team at Pall Mall Medical. Her story highlights the complex intersections of mental health, body image, and women's health issues, offering a powerful message of resilience and self-care.
