Empire Star Gabourey Sidibe on Her Weight Loss: "I Love My Body Now"

Gabourey Sidibe rose to fame in her debut role as Precious in the 2009 Oscar-nominated film of the same name. Since then, Gabourey has appeared on hit shows like American Horror Story and Empire. Now, the 33-year-old actress is opening up about her weight-loss journey and why she says she has learned to love her curvy body.

In a new interview with People magazine, Gabourey shared it was a type 2 diabetes diagnosis from her doctor that prompted her decision to undergo laparoscopic bariatric surgery last year. "I truly didn't want to worry about all the effects that go along with diabetes. I genuinely [would] worry all the time about losing my toes."

Gabourey, who also struggled with anxiety, depression, and bulimia after her parents divorced, said she knew her relationship with food had to change in order to save her life. "The surgery wasn't the easy way out," she writes in her upcoming memoir, This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare, which hits shelves in May. "I wasn't cheating by getting it done. I wouldn't have been able to lose as much as I've lost without it."

Along with changing her eating habits with the help of a nutritionist, Gabourey told People she increased her daily fitness regimen by working out with a personal trainer, swimming, and going for rides on a tricycle while on the set of Empire.

The actress also shared a powerful message about what it means to be beautiful, regardless of what the scale reads. "There's nothing ugly about me. Anyone trying to convince me that I am — and it's usually me — is wasting her time," Gabourey declared. "I was in a war with my body for a long time. If I'd started treating it better sooner, I wouldn't have spent so many years hating myself. But I love my body now."

Check out her full interview here.