Shaila Dúrcal, the 35-year-old daughter of singing superstar Rocio Dúrcal and a singer-songwriter in her own right, has revealed that when she was at the tender age of 14 or 15 years old she suffered from anorexia.
Wow, this admission is a BIG deal especially since it comes after many have speculated that she is currently battling an eating disorder because she appears so thin in photos taken earlier this year. Shaila assures that her current weight loss is not due to an eating disorder and she has a perfectly logical explanation for it as you will see.
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In a recent interview Shaila said, " "Estaba haciendo demasiado deporte y bajé mucho de peso, algo que veía normal. Ahora estoy bien y muy sana. Como demasiado, la verdad."
En inglés she's saying that exercise is what made her lose so much weight and that she feels well and healthy. She assures everyone that her anorexia is a thing of the past and that she's done with it. I hope that true, but I also hope that for her sake she's being honest with herself and not just in some kind of denial. Clearly I am not a medical professional nor do I play one online, but I really hope that Shaila is availing herself of the advice and support of her doctors in this case.
About 10 percent of the American population is affected by eating disorders, but it's really not clear what the numbers in the Latino population are because they often don't get diagnosed or reported AND there is reason to believe that Latinos are more susceptible. Sadly, that is why it is not surprising that Shaila Dúrcal is not the only Latina celebrity to have battled an eating disorder.
Imagen via Corbis Images
Jessica Alba
To me Jessica Alba seems so healthy, but it hasn't always been that way. She told Glamour magazine, "A lot of girls have an eating disorder, and I did too. 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.” At one point she dropped to 100 pounds and was exercising 3 hours a day.
Nicole Richie
I have a soft spot in my heart for Nicole Richie. I admire her candor and her fashion sense, but when she gets scary skinny, I worry. There always seem to be rumors about her having an eating disorder. In 2006 on her father Lionel´s insistence, she sought out help to determine why she wasn't putting on any weight. At the time she said, "I'm focusing on my health right now and getting the help I need, like anybody else would." To this day her thin frame makes people speculate that she has an eating disorder.
María Conchita Alonso
María Conchita Alonso felt so much pressure to be thin that she struggled with bulimia and anorexia to the point of having throat and dental problems for many years.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato has publicly acknowledges her struggle with bulimia. She says, “My eating disorder will continue to affect me for the rest of my life, but I'm proud to say that I got the help I needed, and am now the happiest and healthiest I have ever been!”
Alicia Machado
The stunning Miss Universe 1996 not only admitted to having battled anorexia and bulimia, she has also dedicated herself to helping others going through the same thing.
Anahí
Mexican actress Anahí's strugle with anorexia started when she was only 13 years old. She says, “With the passage of time, my body stopped accepting nutrition until my heart stopped.” Thank goodness she realized she was in trouble before it was too late.
Jamie Lynn Sigler
It breaks my heart that at 16 years old while working in the Sopranos Jamie Lynn Sigler was an exercise bulimic and no one knew. She says, "I felt that no one in this world would ever understand the constant battle I had in my head every day."
