Mason Gooding opens up about past weight struggles and fitness journey

Actor Mason Gooding has spoken about his past struggles with weight and mental health, saying his journey to fitness was about more than physical change.

Speaking on the Wildmen podcast, the 29-year-old Scream 7 and Love, Victor star said he weighed about 300 pounds at age 17 and often felt unable to express how unhappy he was with himself.

After starting college, Gooding tried to lose weight through unhealthy habits, including not eating enough and overexercising. Although he lost weight, he said he was not healthy.

His approach changed after working with a trainer and nutritionist in 2021. He developed a passion for boxing and fitness, which helped him prepare for physically demanding roles such as Chad Meeks-Martin in the Scream films.

Gooding said it took about two years to reach a point where he felt the younger version of himself would be proud of his physical progress. He later realised he also needed to work on his mental wellbeing.

The son of Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. and Sara Kapfer said his mother had encouraged self-improvement when he was younger, but he only understood those lessons later in life.

Gooding said he now sees fitness as part of becoming a better person, adding that striving to be a good man begins with working to improve oneself.