Scottish star Sam Heughan has been raising awareness for how body image standards can have an extreme effect on mental health by sharing some of his own struggles with his body near the start of his career. The Outlander star admitted he underwent drastic diets and exercise regimes to stay slim before he was able to adopt a healthier attitude towards his physical appearance.
Sam revealed he went on intensive diets to stay slim for the camera in his earlier years as a TV star.
The Scottish actor began his rise to stardom by landing the role of Jamie Fraser in Starz’s hit fantasy drama, Outlander, which began in 2014.
Since then, he and his screen partner Caitriona Balfe have become one of the small screen’s most iconic and beloved romantic couples.
Unfortunately, with Sam’s increased profile came the dilemma of staying in peak physical condition to portray the hunky Highlander.
Outlander’s Sam Heughan opens up on body image struggles: ‘Literally starved myself’ (Image: Starz)
Outlander: Sam has been promoting his new memoir, Waypoints (Image: Starz)
“I very much felt the pressure of having to have a certain body type,” he revealed.
“Early on I didn’t really know what I was doing. So I would literally starve myself.”
“And I forced myself to do crazy amounts of cardio to sort of lean down as much as I could.”
Early seasons of Outlander put even more emphasis on Jamie’s chiselled physique, which piled on the pressure for Sam to stay fit.
Outlander: Sam has been playing Jamie Fraser since 2014 (Image: Starz)
Outlander: The star underwent extreme diets to maintain his physique (Image: Starz)
Thankfully, the series has toned down its gratuitous shirtless scenes, and Sam now has the confidence to maintain his health on his own terms.
He told Audible: “Looking back on it now, it really wasn’t healthy.
“But it’s been a good process for me to then educate myself about a healthy lifestyle.”
Sam has now founded a new lifestyle movement to encourage people to stay fit whilst also teaching them a healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body.
“That’s why I created My Peak Challenge,” he explained. “Which is my charity fitness platform.
“We give people access to information and it’s not just about fitness, it’s also about mental health as well.”
On the charity’s website, its mission statement reads: “My Peak Challenge is a global movement dedicated to educating and inspiring its members to live healthier, happier, and more balanced lives while raising funds to change lives.
“Our ethos is simple: Help yourself while helping others.”
Now Sam has made it through 7 seasons of Outlander, he clearly has a healthier outlook on his own body image.
He is still managing to stay fit, however, as he recently trekked the notorious West Highland Way in Scotland.
This impressive trail consisted of a 96-mile hike from Milngavie to Fort William, as well as taking on the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis.
His journey through the highlands inspired his latest project, a deeply personal memoir entitled Waypoints which chronicles his family history and rise to fame.