Danielle Fishel has described developing disordered eating, purging and compulsive over-exercising after comments about her weight were made during the seventh season of Boy Meets World.
The actress, now 45, recounts the experience in Book Meets World: The Definitive Inside Story of the Hit Sitcom Boy Meets World, which she co-wrote with former co-stars Will Friedle and Rider Strong, along with Emily Longeretta.
Danielle Fishel recalls weight comments on Boy Meets World
Fishel says she had gained weight during filming when creator Michael Jacobs raised the subject with her and Friedle. The discussion led to the episode “She’s Having My Baby Back Ribs”, in which their characters, Topanga and Eric Matthews, decide to diet after believing they have put on weight.
Topanga’s boyfriend, Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, suspects she may be pregnant after misunderstanding the situation.
Recalling the conversation in the book, Fishel writes: “Will had gained some weight. I had gained some weight. [Michael Jacobs said,] ‘Obviously, you guys have gained a little bit of weight, so we’re going to write an episode about it, and we just wanted you to know.”
Friedle also recalled the impact of the storyline, saying: “We both laughed and went, ‘I guess we’re doing it,’ while we both were just dying inside.”
He added: “But the fact that I was fat was the fifteenth thing on my list [of what] was wrong with me by season 7. There was so much else going on that the fact that I needed to lose 20 pounds was so far down on the list.”
Fishel says she took the comments particularly hard and began struggling with obsessive thoughts about food and her appearance throughout the season. She said the period involved “purging and overexercising” and recalled passing out at school after running and not eating.
“I don’t think I recognized that, until it was very obvious that I was no longer attractive to [the people in charge] anymore,” she wrote. “I became aware that I was now just disposable, and I carried that feeling with me for most of my life.”
Costume designer defended Fishel’s appearance
Fishel also paid tribute to costume designer Julie Yang Silver, who she said supported her and defended her wardrobe choices to the show’s producers.
Silver said in the book: “Danielle was not heavy. That’s what I was trying to explain to them. But because of her stature, they were so used to seeing [her differently] because she bloomed overnight.”
She added: “Danielle’s not very tall, so if you are bustier and you’re not tall, you’re going to look larger. But she wasn’t.”
Book Meets World is available in multiple formats.
