Aga Muhlach Opens Up About Battling Eating Disorder and Overcoming Depression
AGA MUHLACH – Veteran actor Aga Muhlach candidly shares his struggles with binge eating and the emotional toll it took, including battling depression, as he embarks on a transformative fitness journey.
Former ‘90s matinee idol Aga Muhlach reflected on his evolution, not just as an actor but from being a heartthrob to embracing his “dad bod.” Behind the scenes, Aga candidly admitted that his life hasn’t always been as “handsome” as his fans might imagine.
“From the ‘90s to 2000s to 2010, 2015 ‘yung mga katawan namin. That was history, ‘no? …” he said during a recent press conference introducing him and Richard Gomez as new Century Tuna ambassadors. “’Yung pagiging payat at muscle-muscle ko nu’ng bata-bata ako, was never natural. Kaya siguro nu’ng nag-semi-retire ako, hindi ako nag-diet because I wasn’t naturally fit. Kaya siguro medyo chubby ako…”
Answering a question from Philstar.com, Aga Muhlach recalled how his weight gradually increased, especially during the pandemic.
“Then 2017, when I went back, I did ‘Seven Sundays,’ I was overweight then. Pero ang overweight ko dati was 210 (pounds). I was able to break it down to 170. From 170, naging 180, then dahan-dahan naging 200, and then pandemic, ‘yan ang sumira sa buhay ko. Ayun na nga, umabot ako ng 260,” he shared.
Aga attributed his weight gain to binge eating, saying, “Nagkaro’n kasi ako ng eating disorder for a while. Yeah, oo, talagang binge ako nang binge, binge nang binge. So minsan, hanggang ngayon, lumalabas pa rin ‘yun…”
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines binge eating as consuming large amounts of food in a short period, accompanied by a loss of control over eating.
When asked if his weight affected his career, Aga responded, “’Di naman, ‘di naman umabot sa gano’n kasi ako na mismo, like seven years, nag-stop talaga ako.”
The pandemic weight gain, however, impacted him mentally. “It was difficult. I’ve always been hiding. I could have been busier if not for my weight… Sumobra ang overweight ko. I hit 260 but I’m supposed to be 170, so not nice! I don’t advice anyone to follow that – no!”
At his lowest point, Aga turned to prayer. “That time, I was really so depressed so I prayed, ‘Lord, tulungan N’yo po ako para gumaling.’ Tapos, dumating ‘yung offer (ng Century Tuna), ‘Aga, solusyon, papayat ka na!’…”
For 10 months, Aga dedicated himself to rigorous fitness training and lost 50 pounds. “When I was younger, I was taller,” Aga said, “Siguro ‘yung weight na dinala ko for how many years, binaba ‘yung height ko. Two hundred sixty pounds ang inabot ko! So sa amin, napakalaking bagay ang nangyari ngayon,” he said of his fitness journey as new Century Tuna “Superbod.”
Beyond regaining his physique, Aga shared that the greatest reward of his fitness journey was a renewed zest for life. “So now, I’m down to 200. I have 30 to go! … I’m so happy with myself now! There’s no insecurity sa’kin. Right now, I’m happy where I am. I’m happy and excited where I will be!”
Aga emphasized that his journey taught him the importance of physical preservation in achieving career and life goals. “Mahirap magtago sa buhay lalo na sa katawan natin. Malayo, marami pa tayong ma-aachieve kung well-preserved ang katawan… Sa dating katawan ko, hindi ako nag-oover-promise because I always lack appetite talaga.”
His advice for those considering their own fitness journey? “Sa’kin, it was really enough of that hiding. Enough of those promises that next year, you’d start doing it… Just do it now. Start now!”
“It’s a lifestyle really. So you really have to change your lifestyle.”