United Kingdom, March 24 -- Kerry Washington uses "fitness" to help protect her mental health.

The Scandal star, 49, has previously batted an eating disorder and body dysmorphia but she's now in a good place and she has revealed she takes "mindful" classes including pilates and yoga classes to help lift her mood while she also sticks to a regular routine of weightlifting and walking.

When asked how she looks after her mental health, Kerry told Stylist magazine: "Fitness is a way for me to reconnect with myself and stay embodied.

"I love mindful practices like pilates and yoga, but I also do heavy weight training and lots of walking.

"In many ways, fitness is how I choose to treat my body with love. After years of struggling with body ...