Denise Richards was spotted running errands recently looking decidedly thinner than usual, and rumors are now floating around online that she’s developed an eating disorder.
Richards was snapped by photographers as she picked up her daughters from gymnastics in a sleeveless top which showed off her slender arms, and skinny jeans that showcased her thin frame. And while Hollywood’s obsession with thin actresses has reached an unhealthy peak in recent years, Richards says she doesn’t workout in order to get “skinny”.
“When I exercise I never say I work out to stay thin — I always use the words healthy and strong,” Richards said. “I don’t obsess about wearing makeup when I leave the house or looking a certain way. I often look frumpy in paparazzi shots because I may just throw myself together going to the park and soccer games.”
The media has faced a wave of backlash in recent months over an emphasis on female bodies–Ashley Judd wrote a particularly strong essay for The Daily Beast regarding rumors that she’d had plastic surgery–but the truth is, gossip magazines are just one part of the problem. These days, anyone with an opinion can have a very public voice via Twitter, Facebook, or any number of social media sites. And when the issue is about a woman being too thin, it can be just as hurtful as talk about a woman being too soft.
But Richards says she lives a healthy lifestyle because she has young daughters to set an example for.
“I don’t know why lately I’ve been getting so much flack for it… I have a very healthy lifestyle and I’m busy. I have a daughter who’s almost 2 that I carry all the time. She’s just under 30 pounds. What bothers me is I have three daughters, and I’m such an advocate for health and fitness… in moderation. We eat ice cream all the time.”