Reality television personality Layla Taylor, known for her role on Mormon Wives, has courageously opened up about her ongoing battle with a severe eating disorder that has plagued her for nearly a decade. The 25-year-old Victoria's Secret model took to Instagram to share her deeply personal journey, revealing that her weight had dangerously dropped to just 99 pounds at various points during her struggle.
A Decade-Long Struggle with Body Image
Taylor explained that her eating disorder issues began during her high school years and have persisted despite her belief that she had overcome them. "For the past two years, I've been struggling silently with an eating disorder I believed I had left behind in high school," the star wrote in her emotional Instagram caption. She accompanied her message with a video showing her slender frame in colorful bikinis, highlighting the physical toll of her condition.
Medication Use and Discontinuation
The reality star disclosed that she had been using GLP-1 medications, a class of drugs often prescribed for weight management, but has recently stopped taking them. "Far before I touched [GLP-1 medications] I've had my struggles," Taylor clarified, emphasizing that her eating disorder predated her medication use. She described the recovery process as "messy and far from linear," noting that some days she feels strong while others feel "really heavy."
Taylor admitted she initially turned to weight loss drugs because of "stubborn weight that I couldn't get off," but warned about their addictive nature. "People don't talk about how addicting this is and how hard it is to get off," she shared, adding that the pressure to maintain a certain appearance is particularly intense in Utah, where she resides.
The Impact of Modeling and Motherhood
The television personality revealed that professional rejection significantly impacted her mental health. After being turned away by a modeling agency, she confessed to feeling that "something [was] wrong with me that they didn't choose me." This rejection exacerbated her existing confidence issues, with Taylor telling friends, "The last couple days I've been struggling so hard with confidence. It stems back to me never feeling like I'm enough."
Pregnancy and Relapse Patterns
Taylor discussed how motherhood temporarily alleviated her eating disorder symptoms. "I got pregnant with my first son when I was 19. Naturally there was a baby inside of me that I had to care for. I feel like I healed for a little bit," she explained. However, after separating from her ex-partner, she found herself slipping back into old patterns, eventually discovering she had dropped to 99 pounds. "I don't think I'll ever be small enough in my head," she confessed to friends.
Body Dysmorphia and Public Scrutiny
The reality star has previously addressed her body image issues on Mormon Wives, where she discussed her lifelong struggle with body dysmorphia. During a conversation with co-star Demi Engemann, Taylor admitted, "Oh, 100%" when asked if she still struggles with distorted body perception. She revealed that even well-intentioned comments about looking "healthy" can be triggering for someone with an eating disorder.
Taylor described the exhausting nature of her daily battle, saying, "It's been lonely and exhausting, fighting a battle in my own brain while trying to show up like everything is okay and receive comments daily on my body." Despite these challenges, she remains committed to her recovery, stating, "I'm still learning how to choose self-love over self-criticism."
Family Motivation and Future Outlook
The television personality emphasized that her recovery efforts extend beyond personal wellbeing. "Even this video seeing my body side-by-side is triggering; But I'm still fighting — not just for me, but because my boys deserve a healthy, present mom," Taylor wrote, highlighting her motivation to overcome her eating disorder for her children's sake.
She expressed gratitude for her support system, noting, "So grateful for those in my life that helped me through that low time." Her revelation comes amid production pauses for the fifth season of Mormon Wives, though sources indicate this is unrelated to Taylor's personal disclosures about her health journey.
