Tag Archives: over-the-years

Michelle Duggar has come out and admitted that she suffered from bulimia as a teenager. The revelation about this reality star is actually shared in a book by her daughters – “Growing Up Duggar ” – which comes out March 4 and which initially disguises their mother’s struggles belonging to someone named “Marie.” “On the outside, Marie had what everyone else wanted, but on the inside, she felt sad and empty,” Jane, Jill, Jessa and Jinger write, adding: “She began to envy the girl who tried to control her weight through what turned out to be a destructive eating disorder. Not realizing how dangerous it was, Marie thought it might work for her, and soon her obsession to stay thin started controlling her life.” Many celebrities, of course, have battled eating disorders over the years. Demi Lovato checked into rehab for hers and Ke$ha is currently receiving professional help for one. As a teen, Michelle struggled for “self-acceptance,” according to the book, and it “led her into some difficult emotional times and a very destructive habit that could have destroyed her health.” Michelle and Bob Duggar are the parents of 19 kids and have shared chronicled their lives on TLC for many years.  “I have been open with my struggles with the kids before,” Duggar tells People. “We talk about how God has brought us out of different things along life’s way. When the girls were writing their book, they brought this up and I thought, if my sharing it is going to help another young lady, then I want to share it.”  Michelle says that she would spend three hours per day doing cheerleading and gymnastics a a student, but the weight remained and she would therefore force herself to vomit after many meals. She met and fell in love with Bob when she was 17 and she was open with him about her disorder as soon as her feelings became real. “I would call him,” Michelle says. “He told me to call him anytime. I just know that I would be tempted and I would have the crazy thought that I wanted to throw up, not hold onto the calories. Thank God it didn’t go on longer than it did or I could have done horrible damage to my body.” Duggar says she is now healthy and gives credits to Weight Watchers – chiefly its methods of accountability – for maintaining pounds in a healthy way.  “That solid accountability with another human being, a deep love and strong focus, was where I found freedom,” she says. “I was willing to be accountable before God and man. But the struggle was still there. That accountability was powerful.”

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Michelle Duggar Admits to Eating Disorder