Award-winning actress Christina Applegate is speaking candidly about her ongoing health journey, sharing that one particular side effect of multiple sclerosis (MS) has affected her more deeply than the condition itself.
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, nearly one million people in the United States are living with multiple sclerosis, a chronic autoimmune disease that disrupts the protective covering of nerves. As explained by the Mayo Clinic, MS can lead to symptoms such as numbness, muscle weakness, difficulty walking, vision problems, and balance issues. The severity and progression vary widely, with some individuals experiencing long periods of remission while others face ongoing physical challenges.
Opening Up About MS and Body Image
Since publicly revealing her diagnosis, Applegate has used her platform to raise awareness about MS symptoms, treatment options, and the emotional toll of living with a chronic illness. In her memoir, You With the Sad Eyes: A Memoir by Christina Applegate, she shares deeply personal reflections on how the disease affected not only her physical health but also her body image and mental well-being.
Applegate explains that steroid infusions used during her MS treatment significantly altered her body. She underwent 15 hours of steroid treatments, which led to rapid physical changes, including weight gain and shifts in muscle tone.
While MS brought fatigue, mobility issues, and digestive complications, she says that fluctuations in her weight and appearance were sometimes more difficult to process emotionally.
“My relationship with food is so much better than it ever was, but it took a long time to improve,” she shared. “When the MS hit, the stability I’d fought so hard for went haywire.”
Weight Changes, Steroids, and Self-Perception
Applegate also describes struggling with body dysmorphia and the pressure of public scrutiny. Having spent decades in Hollywood, she was accustomed to intense attention on her appearance. After her diagnosis, she felt that attention shifted in ways that were painful and personal.
She notes that it wasn’t simply about gaining weight — it was about losing a sense of control. “The girl who had control all her life no longer had that control,” she explains.
Later, due to severe gastrointestinal issues related to MS, she was placed on a clear-liquid diet. Within seven months, she lost more than 50 pounds. The rapid weight loss left her legs noticeably thinner, with significant muscle loss.
Today, she acknowledges that her relationship with food is healthier than it once was. However, she also admits to feeling concerned about muscle deterioration and bone protection, especially given the increased fall risk associated with MS-related mobility issues.
“It’s dangerous to be walking around with zero muscles on my body,” she explains, noting concerns about injury and bone health.
A Complex Recovery Journey
Applegate reflects on the emotional complexity of recovery, describing how moments of progress can be followed by new challenges. While she feels proud of rebuilding a healthier mindset around food and body image, she admits that the internal critical voice hasn’t fully disappeared.
Still, she remains determined not to let it define her.
By sharing her experience with multiple sclerosis treatment, steroid side effects, weight fluctuations, and mental health struggles, Applegate continues to shed light on the realities of living with a chronic autoimmune disease — offering both awareness and encouragement to others navigating similar health journeys.
Her story highlights that managing MS isn’t only about addressing physical symptoms; it also involves confronting the emotional and psychological impact that can accompany long-term illness.