Demi Lovato has come a long way with their eating disorder recovery, but the journey is far from over.
The Grammy-nominated singer and Disney Channel alum opened up about their efforts in an interview on the "Street You Grew Up On" podcast, released Wednesday, Oct. 14.
"I've been to treatment several times," Lovato told host Kerry Washington. "I can say that today, I'm not in a place where I look at myself as fully healed. I don't think that that's something that I even think about striving towards because it doesn't seem realistic. I think that food is going to be a battle for the rest of my life, but it's a manageable battle."
Lovato, 34, has previously been candid about their yearslong struggles with body image and disordered eating. The "Camp
Rock" star checked into an in-patient treatment facility at age 18 to deal with "physical and emotional issues," including bulimia.
Despite the singer's attempts at recovery, Lovato's medical conditions persisted. In 2020, the pop star reflected in an interview with Ashley Graham that their eating disorder had morphed into a fixation on "extreme dieting" and over-exercising. Lovato said the health issue contributed to their 2018 relapse from sobriety and subsequent overdose.
"It's something that I have found freedom in with cooking, with my body image," Lovato said on the "Street You Grew Up On." "Some days I don't love my body, but there are days where I accept it. I would say I live in a place of acceptance now, where I don't look in the mirror and berate myself for having curves."
Lovato was forced to confront their eating disorder head-on when they returned to the stage for the It's Not That Deep Tour, which wrapped in May after nearly 20 shows.
"I had put on a little weight before the tour, and I was stressed. I was like, 'I don't want to go onstage. I'm terrified. People are going to say things. They're going to write online,'" Lovato recalled. "I went onstage anyways. No one turned around. No one got up out of their seats and said, '[They're] not a size 0.' They still loved me and cried tears of joy when I sang for them. I was like, 'That's a huge lesson for me.'"
Lovato, who released the cookbook "One Plate at a Time: Recipes for Finding Freedom with Food" in March, said they're "really proud of how far I've come in my journey with my eating disorder recovery," even with the ups and downs of healing.
"I'm 34. My worth isn't in my body," Lovato said. "My husband doesn't love me because of my body. My family doesn't love me because of my body. I'm not sitting in this chair because of my body. I am beautiful as I am, but most importantly, I am a good human and that's what I hold true to my heart."
If you or someone you know is struggling with body image or eating concerns, The National Alliance for Eating Disorders' toll-free and confidential helpline is available by phone at 1-866-662-1235. For 24/7 crisis situations, text "ALLIANCE" to 741741.
Contributing: Charles Trepany, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Demi Lovato shares emotional update on eating disorder recovery
