4 min readNew DelhiDec 30, 2025 04:00 PM IST
First published on: Dec 30, 2025 at 04:00 PM IST
Conversations around body image often remain uncomfortable, even as discussions about mental health slowly become more mainstream. In a recent Instagram video, actor Aamir Khan’s daughter Ira Khan spoke about this gap, admitting that talking about her body has been harder for her than opening up about depression. Addressing herself directly, she said, “Let’s address the elephant in the room: me. Yes, I’m fat, and I’m actually obese for my age and my height. And I’ve been struggling with body image issues and with my relationship with my food since 2020.”
She acknowledged that while she has previously spoken openly about her mental health, this topic feels more exposing. “I’m not as comfortable and confident talking about this as I was with my depression. So I’m not entirely sure how this is going to go,” she shared.
Ira also explained how these struggles have affected multiple areas of her life, saying, “It’s come in the way of my ability to participate in my friends’ lives, in how I show up in my relationship with Popeye, in my self-worth, and so then work and everything.”
Drawing a parallel between mental health and body image, she added, “In a way that I would say is as intense as how my depression would interfere in my life and sometimes still does.” Her intention, she clarified, was not to seek validation but to better understand herself. “And so I want to talk about this. I want to try and unpack what I think, have been thinking, struggled with, still struggle with, just all of it.”
She ended with a note of caution and honesty: “I hope it helps me. If it helps you, then plus points. I would recommend not venturing into the comment section, and if you do, then at your own risk. And let’s see how this goes.”
Why many find it harder to talk about body image and weight struggles than conditions like depression or anxiety
Gurleen Baruah, existential analyst at That Culture Thing, tells indianexpress.com, “It’s not that people don’t talk about body image at all, but it sits in a more confusing social space. Mental health issues like depression or anxiety are slowly becoming more accepted as illnesses. Body weight, however, is still seen as something ‘visible,’ personal, and often wrongly tied to willpower or discipline. At the same time, messages around body positivity and health often conflict.”
She adds that obesity can be “linked to medical, hormonal, genetic, or psychological factors, yet people are still judged as if it’s a simple choice.” This creates shame and silence. Many people don’t know how to talk about their bodies without feeling blamed, dismissed, or misunderstood.
Impact on self-worth, social participation, and personal relationships
Over time, Baruah explains, it can quietly shrink a person’s world. “People may avoid social events, gatherings, or public spaces out of fear of judgment or comparison. There is often a constant inner dialogue of ‘others have it together, something is wrong with me.’ This affects confidence, intimacy, and how safe someone feels being seen. Food can become both comfort and punishment, leading to cycles of craving, guilt, and self-criticism,” says Baruah.
Healthier ways for individuals to address obesity or weight-related concerns
Healthier ways start with all of us, not just the person struggling with weight. As a society, we need to give people back their basic humanity. That means fewer moral judgements, fewer comments disguised as concern, and less virtue signalling.
“Most people living with obesity already know their body, their struggles, and their risks. What they often lack is safety, not information. On a personal level, it helps to slow down and identify what lies beneath the weight concern, such as fear, shame, grief, control, or self-criticism. Working with a therapist, journaling, or any reflective practice can help locate that inner bully and soften it,” suggests Baruah.
Ira Khan talks about dealing with body image issues (Source: Instagram/Ira Khan) 
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