Influencer Sophia Thiel is open about her eating disorder and wants to help other sufferers.Image: imago images / 7aktuell
"Like a deathblow" – Sophia Thiel talks about her illness and the fake world of social media
01/04/2022, 5:50 p.m.More "Entertainment"Frauke Ludowig addresses the climate activist on "Stern TV": "You are not a role model" Jungle camp Jungle camp voting results: Anouschka should have left much earlier "Shit show": Rapper Farid Bang snaps after being kicked out of "DSDS" candidate "Bauer sucht Frau" candidate Antonia reveals her beauty secret : "One of the few who stands by it" RTL presenter Lola Weippert ended up in the hospital – that's the reasonJust two years ago, Sophia Thiel was one of the most successful fitness influencers in Germany. But in 2019, the 26-year-old suddenly withdrew from the public eye, only in January 2021 did she get in touch again – and announced that she was suffering from the eating disorder "Bulimia nervosa", in which those affected suffer from sudden and severe binge eating and then throw up compulsively. At the time, the diagnosis felt like a "death blow," says Sophia Thiel today.
She has now spoken to the "Augsburger Allgemeine" about the fatal consequences of the perfectionism craze that she herself had succumbed to for years and that is still being lived out in large parts of social media. "It upsets me that everyone only presents the good sides of themselves on the Internet and never their weaknesses," says Sophia Thiel. "It upsets me that influencers show themselves to be infallible and put insane pressure on the people who follow them. You compare and you become so unhappy because you can never live up to that ideal."
instagram.com/sophia.thielPsychological problems that result from this are still stigmatized in Germany, says Sophia Thiel. "My impression is that in Germany people only tell people behind closed doors when they're undergoing therapy." She hopes that by being open about her own therapy, she can help other sufferers. Because: "Therapy is not a sign of weakness, but of strength. It's good to get help as early as possible – but of course it's never too late for it. The therapy changed everything for me."
The Rosenheim native also realized that her previous online presence was part of the problem. Now she wants to change that. "I no longer want to be a fitness explainer and I no longer want to be Sophia from back then. I want to speak openly about my problems and not hide myself," she announces. "I know that many women out there are suffering as much as I am. I would rather help in this area now than just give advice on training and nutrition."
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