Hayden Panettiere Shares Weight Gain, Heartbreak

Hayden Panettiere lost a brother, gained weight and now, she’s speaking out.

The Heroes star, who also starred in Bring it On, has had an difficult adulthood, like many former child stars.

Being in the limelight from a young age rarely turns out well, and Hayden is an example.

Now, the actress is talking about her disappearance after the tragic death of her brother.

Hayden Panettiere Talks Loss of Brother, Weight Gain, Heartbreak

Actress Hayden Panettiere has candidly shared her experiences with weight gain and heartbreak in a recent interview.

Panettiere revealed that she struggled with her weight after the tragic death of her younger brother, Jansen.

The Amber Alert star said, “He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him. When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul…I will always be heartbroken about [him], I will never be able to get over it.”

The weight gain only made the months following worse — Panettiere says she was barely able to leave the house.

“I had to see horrific paparazzi pictures of myself coming out of Jansen’s funeral, which happened in a very private place, and it was shocking,” she said.

Hayden explained, “I didn’t recognize myself. My agoraphobia came out, which is something I’ve struggled with in the past.”

The stress and grief she experienced following his loss led to significant weight gain.

In addition to her weight gain, Panettiere also discussed the emotional toll of her brother’s death.

More specifically, Hayden mentioned agoraphobia.

She admitted to feeling isolated and overwhelmed, and that the heartbreak had a profound impact on her mental health.

We might see more of Hayden soon.

She explained, “There’s nothing like looking in the mirror and feeling like you look good enough to walk out the door.”

What Happened To Hayden Panettiere?

PEOPLE got the exclusive, and the interview left some commenters uneasy.

Famous YouTubers, like Sloan, remarked upon Hayden’s appearance and struggle with concern.

As Sloan explained, commenters of the Hayden Panettiere video showed concern.

We hope the best for Hayden!

Hayden Panettiere’s Heathy Diet

During happier times, Hayden Panettiere followed a healthier diet.

The Netflix actress revealed her diet secrets, including protein, in an interview with Self magazine.

Hayden said, “I try to have a protein, whether it be tofu or something else. Then a salad—the greens really make your whole system work. Plus some carbs. And maybe a soup, I love soup.”

Wanna learn about Hayden’s diet during previous times?

Stay tuned…we’ve got the skinny.