Snooki Says She Struggled with an Eating Disorder in High School but Now Accepts Her Body: 'I Don't Care What Size I Am'

"As long as I'm happy and I'm enjoying life, I don't really care," the Jersey Shore star said of her journey toward self-acceptance

<p>Santiago Felipe/Getty</p> Nicole

Santiago Felipe/Getty

Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi in New York City on January 05, 2023
  • Snookie suffered from an eating disorder in high school

  • The reality TV show star said she's learned to trust her body

  • In July, the mom of three posted a viral TikTok video where she talked about how social media negatively affects body image

Snooki is opening up about her relationship with her body.

In an interview with E! News, the Jersey Shore star, 36, explained how she's grown to accept her body after struggling with an eating disorder when she was younger.

"In high school, I suffered from an eating disorder — not eating, anorexic. Cheerleading did that to me," she told the outlet. "But then I just felt so confident in myself. I was like, ‘You know what? Whatever, I don't care what size I am. As long as I'm happy and I'm enjoying life, I don't really care.'"

The reality TV show star said she's learned to trust her appearance and her accept her fluctuating weight.

"When I went on [Jersey Shore], that's kind of where my mindset was at because I wasn't at my thinnest," she added. "And my body fluctuates so much because I'm so short. So like gaining five pounds looks 25 pounds on me because I'm only 4'9" So it's hard to maintain, especially after three kids."

<p>Jamie McCarthy/Getty</p> Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi in New York City on August 1, 2023

Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi in New York City on August 1, 2023

Related: Snooki Slams Online Weight Shamers: 'Stop Commenting on People's Bodies. It's Not Nice'

In July, the mom of three posted a viral TikTok video where she talked about how social media negatively affects body image — including her own. In the video, Polizzi blamed online trolls who attack people’s appearances.

“Who are you to call people ‘pigs,’ and ‘fat,’ and ‘disgusting,’ and [say], ‘Your body looks terrible?’” she asked in the video. “Like, no. This is an education for you. If you think those things, which I’m sure a lot of people have opinions — everyone has an opinion about everybody — you want to judge people’s looks, people’s bodies?"

Then “do it in the own comfort of your a–hole mind," she continued. "Or just like, call somebody. Call your a–hole friend to gossip about someone’s weight.”

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<p>John Lamparski/Getty</p> Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi visits The Empire State Building on August 03, 2023.

John Lamparski/Getty

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi visits The Empire State Building on August 03, 2023.


Related: Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi Explains How She Lost 44 Lbs. After Baby

The mom to sons Lorenzo, 10, Angelo, 4, and daughter Giovanna, 7, has been open about her fitness journey, and the weight she's gained and lost after having her kids.

“I have struggled with my weight my entire life,” she said in the video. “High school? Not great. Wasn’t eating, underweight, had no energy. It was getting scary. So high school was not a good place for me with weight. I wanted to be size zero and so skinny. And I fit in the jeans but, oh my God, I was so sad and not eating and [had] no energy.”

She said in the TikTok video her attitude changed when she started appearing on Jersey Shore in 2009 — when she was just 21 years old.

“I was like, you know what? I’m going to enjoy my life,” Polizzi said. "That meant “not worrying about what I was eating. And [no] 'I can only eat that this time,' and 'I can only eat this many calories.' No, girl. I enjoyed myself.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please go to NationalEatingDisorders.org.

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