Causes of Demi Lovato's Weight Gain & Her Struggle with an Eating Disorder

Singer, songwriter, and actress Demi Lovato has been very open about her struggles with her weight, fighting an eating disorder, and finding her way to a body-positive attitude.

Demi Lovato has been a star since the age of 16 and, like so many young actors and musicians, has had to live under the relentless scrutiny of the public and the press. It led her to despair and body dysphoria.

Fourteen years after her breakthrough role in "Camp Rock," the singer has come to terms with herself. Demi Lovato's weight gain or loss no longer rules her life. The singer shared her journey to health after suffering from an eating disorder for years.

Demi Lovato was born on August 20, 1992, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her parents divorced when Lovato was two-years-old. The young Lovato started playing guitar and dancing at a young age, and at 10, she was cast in the children's TV series, "Barney & Friends."

She guested on series like "Prison Break" and the sitcom "Just Jordan" before being cast as Charlotte Adams in Disney Channel's "As the Bell Rings" in 2007. Stardom was just around the corner, and in 2008 Lovato landed the part of Mitchie Torres in the film "Camp Rock," and the lead in the teen sitcom "Sonny with a Chance."

Her singing career took off with the "Camp Rock's" soundtrack, and she released her debut album, "Don't Forget." Lovato was top of the charts, and her sitcom was a hit, but by 2010, she was struggling with her health.

In 2011, Lovato's life fell apart. She was diagnosed with a mood disorder and bulimia. She had been hiding her pain for years and self-medicating with alcohol and controlled substances.

Demi Lovato's Weight Gain over the Last Years

Demi Lovato went into treatment for her eating disorder, gained a much-needed thirty pounds, and became the target of hateful comments about her weight. Despite her problems, "X-Factor" boss Simon Cowell wanted Lovato to lose 20 pounds before returning to the show in 2013.

Lovato's bulimia had placed her life at risk and caused short-term damage to her voice, but her struggles were far from over. Over the next six to seven years, Lovato battled with her weight and substance abuse. She said:

"I think that's something in our society we get caught up in diet culture. Every commercial on TV is either about a weight loss pill or piece of fitness equipment or it’s all food-based."

In 2018, Lovato revealed that she had stopped dieting and had gained weight but felt healthier and happier with herself and her life. The singer spoke out about fighting her dysmorphia and revealed that she refused to food shame herself any longer or set a bad example for her fans.

Demi Accidentally Lost Weight

In 2021 a delighted Lovato shared a video clip on Instagram of herself in front of a mirror, showing off accidental weight loss. Her message to her friends and fans was clear:

"I don't count calories anymore; I don't over-exercise anymore; I don't restrict or purge. And I especially don't live my life according to the diet culture...and I've actually lost weight. (...) But I feel full not of food but of divine wisdom."

After years of pain and self-doubt, Lovato shared her delight in herself, in who she is, not who the world and the entertainment industry expected and demanded she be.

Lovato confessed that she is sensitive and that the negative and often cruel comments on her weight over the years hurt her deeply.

Demi Lovato's Path to Self-Acceptance

In 2020 Lovato opened up to Ellen DeGeneres, whose wife, Portia de Rossi, had also suffered from an eating disorder. She revealed that even though she was recovering from an eating disorder, her managing team controlled everything she ate and took the phone out of her hotel rooms so she couldn't order room service.

Lovato shared that during her recovery, she wrote the song "I Love Me" as a hymn to herself, and the lyrics are an inspiration and a revelation about the pain she went through and her journey to recovery:

"Oh, why do I compare myself to everyone?/ And I always got my finger on the self destruct/ wonder when I love me is enough."

Despite her progress in body positivity, Lovato admitted that she still had days when she had to confront negative feelings about her self-image. She sees herself as a fighter, and a survivor, and she is determined to reach out to other young women who are going through the same problems.

Colleagues Supported Demi

Lovato confessed that she is sensitive and that the negative and often cruel comments on her weight over the years hurt her deeply. She said:

"I'm so tired of pretending I'm not human. When you say stuff, it affects me. I try not to look, but I see it."

But while internet bullies may slam her, Lovato is surrounded by people who love and support her in the form of friends and colleagues like "Teen Wolf" actor Dylan O'Brian and "Twilight" actress Ashley Greene. O'Brien tweeted:

"Let me get this straight, Demi Lovato recovers from her eating disorder...only to be criticized about her weight gain? I don't get the world."

Greene, too, gave Lovato a shoutout on Twitter, showing her support for the singer, and telling her she is beautiful. Demi Lovato didn't just overcome her problems; she became an advocate for well-being and mental health to her over 147 million Instagram followers.