Demi Lovato Talks Bulimia: Five Other Stars Who Have Overcome Eating Disorders

By Justine Ashley Costanza | July 17 2012 4:53 PM

Photo: SELF

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato covers Self Magazine's August issue.

Photo: Reuters

Jessica Alba

The bodacious mom of two has admitted to severe calorie restriction in the past. "A lot of girls have eating disorders, and I did too," the actress told Glamour in 2005. "I got obsessed with it. When I went from a girl's body to a woman's body with natural fat in places, I freaked out. It makes you feel weird, like you’re not ready for that body."

Photo: Reuters

Katharine McPhee

In 2006, the "American Idol" finalist admitted to People magazine that she once battled bulimia. "Food — my eating disorder — was the one thing holding me back," McPhee told the mag. "I mean, here I am, this singer, and it was so horrible on my vocal cords."

Photo: Wiki Commons

Mary-Kate Olsen

Speculation about Olsen's severely low weight has made headlines for much of her adult life. In 2004, the star admitted to suffering from anorexia nervosa and subsequently entered a treatment program st at Cirque Lodge. "This is a challenge that Mary-Kate has made a decision to face," said her rep via a press release. "This is a challenge she will meet."

Photo: Twitter

Lady Gaga

Earlier this year, the pop sensation shared the horrid details of her High School eating disorder. The New York Post reported that Gaga battled bulimia. "I used to throw up all the time in high school," she revealed in February 2012. "So I'm not that confident. I wanted to be a skinny little ballerina, but I was a voluptuous little Italian girl whose dad had meatballs on the table every night. I used to come home and say, 'Dad, why do you always give us this food? I need to be thin.' And he'd say, 'Eat your spaghetti."

Since Demi Lovato endured a public meltdown back in 2010, she has been candid about her struggle with bipolar disorder and bulimia. Now the former Disney sensation is opening up to Self magazine about her road to recovery.

I've spent the past two years getting over an eating disorder and issues like self-harming and bipolar disorder, Lovato says. Unlike a person who doesn't have these problems, I have to work on this stuff every day. I'm reminded of that whenever I eat or feel down.

Lovato, who is set to appear as a judge on the X-Factor, has admitted to vomiting up to three times a day in the past.

''I'd make myself sick up to six times a day, Lovato told Fabulous magazine in April. My mom was worried, but because I was going through puberty I was having growth spurts so she assumed that was why I was thinner.''

The 19-year-old has revealed that some days are still difficult.

I cannot tell you that I have not thrown up since treatment, in an interview with MTV. I can not tell you that I have not cut myself since treatment. I'm not perfect. This is a daily battle that I will face the rest of my life.

Lovato is one of many female stars who have recovered from an eating disorder. Here are five that have managed to do so.