Sarah Hyland responds to body shamers with powerful message

Sarah Hyland has an important message for everyone telling her to eat burgers.

In an moving essay posted to Twitter, Hyland explained that an influx of negative comments on her social media accounts about her appearance and weight-loss prompted the actress to address those critiquing her body with a two-part story.

"I haven't had the greatest year. Maybe one day I'll talk about it but for now, I'd like my privacy," Hyland wrote.

The Modern Family actress explained that she has endured a lot of physical changes that have left her on bed rest, loss of muscle mass, and a swollen face from life-saving medication.

"I have been told I can't work out," she explained. "Strength is everything. Being strong has gotten me where I am. Both mentally and physically. I am not a fan of 'being skinny,' which many of you have told me that I am too much of."

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"My circumstances have put me in a place where I'm not in control of what my body looks like," she wrote, addressing those that commented she should "eat a burger" or claimed she was anorexic.

"While these comments don't affect me, they may affect others. So I am here to say that no one should aim to be the weight that I am right now," Hyland wrote. "I am working hard to maintain my weight by eating as much protein as possible and continue to be STRONG and healthy."

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“I’m a 26 year old woman who goes through more than you could even imagine on a daily basis," Hyland wrote. "But I work hard. I love hard. And I got to where I am because I am STRONG and didn’t give up."

"I am grateful for the life I live and you should be too,” she said, before encouraging others to face negative comments with love and positivity, “especially at a time like this.”

Following the story, fans and fellow actors reached out with messages of support for the actress.

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