Jazz Jennings admitted she’s “humiliated” by her 100-pound weight gain and the “fat-shaming” she receives from her family.
In the Season 7 trailer for her TLC reality series, “I Am Jazz,” the 21-year-old transgender activist revealed that her eating habits changed amid mental health struggles, resulting in her weight of 234 pounds.
“I do experience fat-shaming from my family,” she said in the clip. “It makes me feel really humiliated.”
She explained that two years ago she had plans to attend Harvard University, but ultimately deferred going to “refocus and recenter” following a busy year.
“I was actually struggling severely with mental health issues. I started binge-eating and I gained weight and more weight and more weight. And now, almost 100 pounds heavier, here I am today.”
In another scene, Jennings removed her shirt to reveal her “big old belly” while posing for photos in a sports bra and athletic shorts.
She also admitted that activities such as kickball and tennis are more difficult with the added weight.
“I’m out of shape. Be easy on me,” she told her loved ones, before adding in a confessional, “Having all this extra weight, I can’t do so many things with my body that I used to be able to do.”
Later she described her typical breakfast of “fast food, maybe a doughnut or two and then maybe two bagels.”
Though Jennings said she was hurt by her family’s remarks about her weight, grandma Jacky insisted that she doesn’t “judge” the young TV personality for it. Rather, Jacky is “just shocked” by her granddaughter’s transformation, she says.
“Even when we think we’re doing something right, she falls off the wagon,” Jennings’ mother, Jeanette, lamented to the camera.
Later, Jeanette confronted her daughter for “making empty promises” to prioritize her health.
“You’re like, ‘I got this. I can do this. I’m gonna change,’” she said, to which Jennings replies, “I can tell you that it’s different now because it’s now or never. It’s now or never at this point.”
Jennings addressed her weight gain in a June Instagram post, tellings fans that she wanted to “hold [herself] accountable.”
“I’m ready to change my ways; I’ve been saying I’m ready to turn over a new leaf, but I’m running out of trees now,” she wrote at the time.
“I’m ready to take the initiative and create positive changes when it comes to my health and body.”
“I Am Jazz” Season 7 premieres Tuesday, Nov. 30, at 9 p.m. ET on TLC.