Demi Lovato has always been open about her struggles with food and body image. She recently decided to give up dieting after being on a strict eating schedule.
The 25-year-old said that she feels “more free” since allowing herself to eat whatever she wants, whenever she wants. She told PEOPLE:
“I had been on a really strict, regimented diet for so many years, and it felt like I didn’t have a lot of freedom with food. It would cause me to overindulge whenever I did get the opportunity, and I just felt like it was an unhealthy behavior.”
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She continued: “I just thought to myself, why am I doing this? I’d rather live in freedom from any eating disordered behaviors or thoughts, and so I decided to just let myself enjoy certain things without feeling guilt or shame.”
She publicly made the decision to stop dieting, and thanks her fans for the support: “The reaction has been great. There are some people who body shame me, and sometimes it’s difficult, but I say to myself, am I happy? and that’s the most important thing. And I want my fans to be happy, too.”