Actor and former ‘Gwapings’ member Eric Fructuoso candidly shared his dramatic weight loss journey, battle with depression, and fear of aging during his guest appearance on ‘Kay Susan Tayo!’, the vlog hosted by veteran broadcast journalist Susan Enriquez under GMA Public Affairs.
Fructuoso, who recently drew attention for his physical transformation, revealed that he reached nearly 220 pounds (about 100 kilograms) in 2025 after years of unhealthy eating, frequent drinking, and a lack of exercise.
“Masarap kasing kumain. Tapos, umiinom pa ako noon lagi. Tapos, walang exercise. So, ‘yun. Grabe ‘yung taba ko noon.”
He recalled how difficult it had become to find clothes that fit him.
“Wala nang magkasya na mga damit sa akin. So, bumibili kami. Wala nang kasya sa aking pantalon.”
The actor admitted that his weight gain took an emotional toll, even breaking down while trying on clothes.
“Doon, umiiyak ako sa fitting room. Parang, ano ba ‘tong nangyari sa akin?”
Fructuoso also shared a humorous but honest anecdote about how his weight affected his daily life.
“Sa kama, para akong pagong, hindi makatayo. Ganoon na. Tsaka ‘yung kailangan mo nang tumingin sa salamin para makita mo na ‘yung bird mo.”
Looking back, he realized he was already experiencing depression.
“That time, sabi ko, ito yata ‘yung depression na dumarating na sa akin, nararamdaman ko. Till, I made the decision na ayusin na lahat.”
Desperate to improve his health, Fructuoso initially pushed himself to play basketball but ended up injuring his knee. He was later introduced to peptides, which he said became part of his wellness journey.
“Kasi, I was so desperate to lose weight, na-injure na nga tuhod ko because pinilit ko mag-basketball.”
Although initially hesitant because the treatment involved injections, he eventually gave it a try.
“Pero hindi pala siya pampapayat. Magiging healthy ka pala. Tapos, tinry ko, nag-lose ako ng fats. Tapos, lahat ng matataas sa resulta ko, bumaba.”
According to WebMD, peptides are short chains of amino acids that serve as the building blocks of proteins and function as natural messengers that help regulate various bodily processes, including metabolism, muscle growth, weight management, digestion, and sleep. While some peptide-based medications are approved for specific medical conditions, individuals are advised to consult healthcare professionals before using them for weight management or other purposes.
After seeing improvements in his health, Fructuoso committed himself to regular exercise and healthy eating. His weight has since dropped to 154 pounds, allowing him to go from wearing 2XL and 3XL shirts to a medium size.
“Dati hindi ako kumakain masyado. Ngayon, pinipilit ako kumain kasi ‘yung food ko is may fuel to do all the exercises.”
Beyond his fitness journey, Fructuoso also opened up about living with gerascophobia, or the fear of aging.
He traced the anxiety back to childhood memories of seeing his father come home from work exhausted and stressed.
“Sabi ko, ‘Ayoko na tumanda.’ Sabi ko, never ako magtatrabaho ng normal na job.”
He added: “Nakikita natin lahat, ‘di ba? ‘Yung mga matatanda sa atin, laging stressed, laging pagod. Sabi ko, ‘Ayoko ng ganiyang buhay.’ Kaya siguro ‘yun ‘yung naging trauma ko, ayoko tumanda.”
Today, Fructuoso says he remains focused on maintaining a healthier lifestyle, prioritizing discipline, peace of mind, and overall well-being after overcoming one of the most difficult chapters of his life.
