Katharine's Secret Struggle

Katharine McPhee: Click to watchThe "American Idol" contestant opens up about her struggle with bulimia in an interview with sister and "EXTRA" guest correspondent Adriana McPhee. After building up the courage to tell her mother about her eating disorder, Katharine joined a program, which she says was overwhelming.

"I remember the first day, my first meal when I sat down with the other girls, I cried at the table," she said, "It was just like going face to face and seeing all the other girls struggling at the table and seeing myself actually wanting to eat as fast as I could to get out of there."

Now that she's fully recovered and back on the "Idol" tour, McPhee is happy to be seen as a role model to those in similar situations.

"If I can help somebody, you know, get help and go work on their eating disorder, that's great. If I can cheer up somebody by going to a concert one night, that's great. That's what I'm in it for." And the best part to McPhee - "I feel like I can eat whatever I want."

Tags: Katharine McPhee, KatharineMcphee

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61. Katherine McPhee is such a MCPhake and a diva...who throws hissy fits if she doesn't get her way. Dating a man old enough to be he father. too. Ugh... a 41 yr old who co-starred with her in the musical Annie Get Your Gun in LA. So, she sure isn't the giggly, goofy, silly, innocent young thing that she pretended to be on IDOL. By the way, IMO she didn't win IDOL so now she's doing everything she can to not have to join the IDOL tour. She just can't stand not being the Queen who gets all the attention. She did her best singing when she sang delicately and if you listened carefully that's what the IDOL judges tried repeatedly to tell her but no, the Queen thought she knew better and tried over and over again to be sexy and sultry by trying to make her voice sound husky and it never worked for her. You could tell it strained her voice. She sounded like crap and that is no doubt what's wrong with her voice right now. She's too stupid to take care of her instrument and use it to its best advantage and not damage it. What a Loser!

Posted at 10:37PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Deanna

62. Katherine is an Idiot! I did have bulimia and would Never be so casuel about it as she is. What a publicity stunt! I have never liked her and find her so insincere and not humble at all. What a fake!!!!

Posted at 10:39PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Diana Saunders

63. She is just a pretty face.

Posted at 10:42PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Melanie

64. I truly felt bad for Kat and the horrible disease she had but enough is enough. Time for her to move on and talk about other things. We have so many more celebrities that will talk about it. It wont be the last time we hear about it. I am glad she is well now but I dont like hearing about it everyday. MOVE ON.

Posted at 10:44PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Jeri

65. I think Katherine is a beautiful, very talented person. She has a great career ahead of her and I commend her for announcing her eating disorder. I have a sister that has suffered with this all her adult life and it's very sad. I hope and pray that Katherine will continue to do well with her health and will be a help to anyone with these problems. She should have been the American Idol winner, not the runner up. Katherine will definitely have a great singing career!!!!!

Posted at 10:44PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Terri

66. I'm sorry, but I am soooooooo sick of hearing about Kat McPhee and all her issues, I'm ready to die. It's so sad that of everything from everybody else's lives from American idol, this is all we can find to talk about. And like everything else, as long as we, the public, keep listening, the crazy media will keep talking about it, printing it, and reporting it. Enough already. For someone with an eating disorder, she sure looked awfully healthy during that first audition. Doesn't anyone remember?? I think this is such a shame that there are so many people in this world with this problem and she is using it to gain more on-air time. Yes, it's time to pull the plug. Do you wanna be famous because you are talented or is it true that you aren't and you just wanna be famous for having an eating disorder??

Posted at 10:46PM on Jul 30th 2006 by sherri

67. I know this lady. She is about 60 yrs old. She can eat a potato chip and throw it back up. She would go in the bathroom, not even close the door to the stall, stick her finger down her throat and make herself throw up. Sometimes, she would forget to flush the toilet and all she threw up was blood. She could walk out of the bathroom and act like NOTHING was wrong. Along with that, she was a very unhappy person. She tried to make everyone else feel as bad as she did. I couldn't stand being around her. I would strongly recommend someone getting help if they have this problem because I don't ever want to see someone that sick again. It can be done! I'm very sure of that! Stand up and conquer it!

Posted at 10:48PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Jennifer

68. Wah Wah Wah .... I did not win American Idol even with my daddy hiring all those people to make calls for me... I am not that great of a singer...I am out of the lime light...I know ... Even though I have a fat ass and have not a missed a meal in 12 years I was sick once so I must have an eating disorder ...quick call the media I can be in the lime light again.... WHAT A PHONEY

Posted at 10:52PM on Jul 30th 2006 by bill

69. yeah, we all have stories to tell :(

Posted at 10:54PM on Jul 30th 2006 by sammy

70. after taylor hicks landed on the cover of people magazine, katherine mcphee decided to tell her story... i find that a bit werid that all the sudden she had an eating disorder!!! can we say attention hog?
trust me ive suffered with bulmia for years and if you look at the pictures in the magazine when she admits she was at her lowest point, she looks pretty healthy to me. theres no weight loss in her face which is usually the first sign of an eating disorder!
i just find it extremely weird that taylor hicks gets on the cover of a magazine and all the sudden katherine mcphee has to too.

Posted at 11:01PM on Jul 30th 2006 by dani

71. I thought Kat had a great voice, and I think she is a very beautiful young lady. That smile of her's will get her far.

Posted at 11:05PM on Jul 30th 2006 by sue

72. Kat is a beautiful girl and talented. However, I feel that she was a "tease" to the men by her comments and by the way she dressed. That's what got her the votes to keep her to the end. Guess I can't blame her - if ya got it - flaunt it !!!

Posted at 11:11PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Barbara leandri

73. I think that those who are sick of hearing and reading about Katharine McPhee, should probably not immerse themselves so much into her then. She has a talent that hasn't been seen in years, happens to be very attractive, and is simply a human being like the rest of us. Why so much much scrutiny towards one person? Certainly, there are other things to be extremely anal about, like why our country is at war,etc., etc. There is never a need for wishing something bad for another human being. Makes absolutely no sense at all.

Posted at 11:11PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Kirk Dalton

74. Wow! Responding to Vicki, maybe you should get some psychiatric help! The venomous outpouring in your posting was almost tangible. What is your problem that you HATE Katharine McPhee so vehemently? If you don't know her, then you need anger management therapy! If you have met her, I have to wonder what she did to you to make you use the words "twisted, lazy, stupid, talentless" among others to describe a young woman that many people obviously liked. Or maybe it's just sour grapes???

Posted at 11:12PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Patricia

75. I think she is wonderful. If she is a scientologist then I will be praying for her. She is beautiful and talented. And we all have personal struggles. Eating disorder is just like drug addiction. It is a brain reward. It is hard to overcome. Without God or a strong support system you can't do it. I know. God bless her!

Posted at 11:13PM on Jul 30th 2006 by amanda

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