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

Reader Comments

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76. Why must everyone tell their problems to the media? Who cares? If you buy into the Hollywood lunacy that all women must look like 12 year old boys, then you deserve what you get.

Posted at 11:15PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Gia

77. By today's standards, Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell would be "fat slobs". If you are not skin and bones you are taunted mercilessly by the press if you are famous and by your peers if you are not.
So we wind up with females looking like concentration camp refugees.
I shudder to think what it must feel like to hug these bags-of-bones.

You needn't be overweight , but looking terminally ill is not healthy either.

Posted at 11:29PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Glo

78. Have to agree with Jeanette... get that girl off the air....

Posted at 9:22AM on Mar 30th 2007 by michelle

79. Don't you all have anything better to do than fight over whose right or wrong when it comes to issues on other peoples lives. They're not talking about you all so why bother discussing their business, who f***ing cares.

Posted at 11:41PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Toyya

80. i think kathryn is still in denial having worked with bulemic's in the past. she seems to be using her illness for the publicity. as for missing the tour..she has always acted like she was better than the rest..how convenient she was too sick to do it. i think she will fade fast..she's a girl with little substinance to her and still a bulemic. it's a struggle one has to deal with, no quick fixes. i'm tired of hearing about her..she wasn't the winner and in my opinion, got farther than she should have.

Posted at 11:47PM on Jul 30th 2006 by juggs

81. McPhee is getting to much media about this disorder......Why not allow everyone to talk about their condition besides McPhee....This is like the 14th time AOL has put something about her disorder online......Just like AOL media appears that McPhee is the only one to visit the President....when all the idols did.....and actually the story tells that Taylor Hicks had an old teacher in the White House....So McPhee stop drawing attention to yourself with all your fake illness and whinnings .....move on already.......

Posted at 11:49PM on Jul 30th 2006 by lacy

82. ohhhh please, dont we have more important issues to discuss??? im glad the southern guy won, southern people know how to eat!! get a life mcphee!!

Posted at 11:52PM on Jul 30th 2006 by danel

83. Vicki is such a bitch. Katherine McPhee should have won American Idol this year, you just do not know talent you filthy whore.

Posted at 11:55PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Steven

84. I think she has an above average voice, and I'm sure the voice lessons have helped! Many times those who seem to be snooty, do so as a way of covering their lack of self-confidence. I'm sure she'll be on Broadway, someday, but I hope the stress of eight performances a week doesn't cause the bulimia to "raise it's ugly head".

Posted at 12:10AM on Jul 31st 2006 by Jean

85. So what if she is a scientologist. Thats her freakin choice. I am not one, I am a christian, but I think we should respect others choices, whether its their religion, marital status, sexual orientation, pro or non pro lifer, whatever. It's immature to base your decisions on preferences but its also your preference not to buy her music and not flaunt it like a child.

Posted at 12:18AM on Jul 31st 2006 by cheryl

86. Katherine McWho??? Enough already with her.

Posted at 12:18AM on Jul 31st 2006 by Lisa

87. i thought this whole eating disorder thing was a bit over the top. i honestly think its just to get some publicity her way... she was never talented to begin with... she's LUCKY to be going on a tour and getting ANY offers and already she wants to feign sickness...?['cause i know ALL i've heard about was her cancelling for one reason or another] and then to come out and say she has an eating disorder just makes me laugh. this girl will stop at nothing to get some attention.



CAN WE HAVE ONE AMERICAN IDOL THAT DOESN'T LET THIS CRAP GO TO THEIR HEADS????

Posted at 12:30AM on Jul 31st 2006 by toni

88. (82. Don't you all have anything better to do than fight over whose right or wrong when it comes to issues on other peoples lives. They're not talking about you all so why bother discussing their business, who f***ing cares.

Posted at 11:41PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Toyya)


Apparently YOU do.


Posted at 12:33AM on Jul 31st 2006 by Hammersmith Watney

89. I agree that she is a Diva and is in NO HURRY to be on that tour with all the other "average or below-average" (in her eyes) performers!! I think this year's Idol show kinda Sucked. I am glad that Taylor won though instead of her conceited butt !! Tired of her already, who cares about your eating disorder too!!

Posted at 12:55AM on Jul 31st 2006 by not fooled by Kat

90. One quick stint in rehag and she is "cured" from her bulima. I guess who ever wrote this article knows nothing about eating disorders. I am certain she is not cured. I am sure its a struggle every day for her, and I am also sure that the "Hollywood or AMerican Idol image" is part to blame for her illness

Posted at 12:59AM on Jul 31st 2006 by matt

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