Tracey Gold Discusses Impact of Fat Jokes on 'Growing Pains' Anorexia Struggle

Tracey Gold recently discussed her challenging experiences while portraying Carol Seaver on the sitcom 'Growing Pains,' revealing that fat jokes aimed at her character deeply affected her mental and physical health. Initially, she brushed off the humor, but after gaining weight during a hiatus, the jokes became more frequent and hurtful, impacting her self-esteem. Gold eventually tried to voice her discomfort to the show's writers, but felt powerless and was told she was being too sensitive. Her struggle with these issues contributed to her battle with anorexia, exacerbated by a doctor's dangerous weight loss regimen of only 500 calories a day. Despite receiving compliments after losing weight, Gold recognized the toll this took on her well-being. She reflects on the importance of finding one's voice against harmful narratives, especially in the entertainment industry.