Candace Cameron Bure, known for her iconic role in Full House, has opened up about her lifelong struggle with bulimia and the emotional origins that have shaped her relationship with food and body image. In an emotional podcast episode of The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, aired on July 22, 2025, she shared her personal journey, discussing how this eating disorder continues to affect her life even years after she first developed it.
Struggles Began at Home
Bure revealed that her eating disorder began when her parents put her on a diet at a young age. Although they had good intentions, focusing on health rather than weight loss, the pressure to maintain a “perfect” body image left a lasting impact on her. This was especially true as she became a teenager and started to view her body through a critical lens.
As she shared on the podcast, “I developed an eating disorder when I was 18. It was binging and purging. I’m a bulimic. And I still say I’m a bulimic.” Bure admitted that while she no longer engages in bulimic behaviors, the thoughts surrounding her body image persist, and she still battles with the mental aspects of the disorder.
Healing Through Faith and Reflection
Despite the struggles, Bure has found solace in faith. She recalled a pivotal moment when she was reading the Bible, during which her body “spoke back” to her, saying, “Have I not been the body that’s carried you all the days of your life?” This reflection allowed her to reevaluate how she treated her body and how she viewed herself.
“God allowed my body to speak back,” Bure said. This moment was a turning point, helping her to redefine her self-worth beyond physical appearance and embrace her body for all it had endured.
Impact on Her Family
Bure was quick to emphasize that her parents did not intend for their dietary focus to harm her, and that they always encouraged a healthy, active lifestyle. However, the constant emphasis on health and food choices at home created an environment where she began to feel inadequate about her body. Her parents’ health-conscious habits, although intended as preventative, unknowingly shaped her perspective on body image.
Source: Wikipedia
Audience Reactions and Support
Bure’s candor in sharing her story has resonated deeply with her audience. Many listeners expressed how much they related to her experiences, with one woman in her 60s noting, “I had no idea that so many women felt like this. I’m just listening and mentally checking boxes of my life.” Bure’s openness about her past has inspired many others to reflect on their own struggles with body image and eating disorders.
Another listener shared, “This podcast is going to be so helpful! Thank you for your vulnerability on this topic. It is so good for us to see the real you so that we aren’t always envious of skinny girls thinking that they have it all, when really we all struggle.”
Embracing Aging with Grace
Now, as she nears her 50th birthday in 2026, Bure is committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle for the sake of her strength, rather than vanity. She shared that her focus is on fitness and strength, wanting to be able to perform simple tasks—like opening a jar of peanut butter—well into her later years. “I want to be able to open the peanut butter jar when I’m 80,” she joked.
However, Bure also acknowledges the challenges of aging in the public eye, particularly with the relentless pressure to conform to beauty standards. She shared that she receives daily messages about her appearance, many of which are critical. In response, she posted on Instagram, “I’m a middle-aged woman and can handle rude people. Imagine how this affects our children.”
A Call for Kindness
Bure ended her message with a call for kindness, urging her followers to “uplift others” and “spread joy.” She shared her belief that many of the negative comments people send are a reflection of their own insecurities. Rather than responding with bitterness, she expressed empathy and prayed for their hearts to know the love of God.
As Bure continues her journey of healing and self-acceptance, her vulnerability is helping to pave the way for others to embrace their own imperfections and foster a healthier relationship with their bodies.
