Demi Lovato Says Hollywood Had a ‘Negative Impact’ on Their Eating Disorder, Asks Fans to Seek Help

Demi Lovato is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month (May) by using their platform to share their journey with eating disorders and other mental health issues. 

“The very first time that I went to treatment was when I was 18,” Lovato said in an interview. “I went from my eating disorder, and I went for self-harm and emotional issues. And when I came out with that experience, I was faced with the decision of either ‘keep your mouth shut and not say anything’ or ‘share your experience strength and hope with another person in hopes that it affects them in a positive way.’”

They added, “I wanted to help others. I wish that I had somebody when I was 13 years old and having an eating disorder and starving myself. I wanted somebody in the public eye to say that ‘Hey, this is what I’ve gone through, and you don’t have to choose that route.’”

Lovato also spoke about body dysmorphia and how that was a result of unrealistic beauty standards that they were subjected to as a young artist. “When you’re looking at images of people with perfect bodies, you start to look at yourself, and you start to pick yourself apart, and it’s hard to grow up in a world where that’s right in front of your face and at your fingertips at all times,” they recalled. “I grew up in a period of time where young Hollywood was very, very, very thin, and that was the look, and I think that had a really negative impact on my eating just on my mental health, which I think fed into my eating disorder.”

Lovato also urges young adults to spread the message that it’s OK to ask for help. “I want them to know that talking to people and asking for help is more than OK and is absolutely what you should do,” they noted.

– Riya Sohini