Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall says anorexia battle left her in hospital

Thirwall said going to hospital made her realise she was suffering from “something really serious”
Opening up: Jade Thirlwall started losing weight aged 13
Ian Gavan/Getty
Emma Powell21 October 2016
The Weekender

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Little Mix singer Jade Thirlwall has opened up about her battle with anorexia, saying the condition saw her admitted to hospital.

Thirlwall, 23, has spoken about the “self-destructive” disease in the band's new book, Our World, in which she explained how bullying, problems at home and the death of a close relative resulted in the start of her dramatic weight loss aged 13.

“My periods stopped and things were getting out of control but I don't think I really cared about what was happening to me,” she admitted.

“I felt so depressed at the time that I just wanted to waste away and disappear.”

Healthy: Jade Thirlwall at the 2015 Jingle Bell Ball
Jeff Spicer/Getty

The singer said she refused to listen to those encouraging her to get help, but said she realised she was battling “something really serious” when she was admitted to hospital and saw a friend suffering from the disease in a specialist unit.

“Anorexia is a self-destructive thing and you become stubborn, so when people are trying to tell you something you get it into your head that they're against you and you're not going to listen,” she said.

"It took going to hospital to make me realise that it wasn't a game, it was something really serious. They sat me down in the clinic and were quite tough at first, spelling it out: 'You're destroying your body and if you keep doing this you will die.'

“It shocked me into making a change."

The girl group are currently promoting their new single Shout Out to My Ex and hit the headlines when they performed the track in "raunchy" outfits on Sunday night's X Factor.

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They also made an appearance on The One Show on Wednesday night, but Thirwall was absent.

Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock pulled sad faces as Jesy Nelson told hosts Matt Baker and Alex Jones: "She’s had a few family problems so she can’t be here."

Fans were quick to tweet their support with one posting: "Hope Jade is okay. Sad not to see her on The One Show tonight."

Another commented: "Gutted jade couldn't be there but hopefully she will be back soon #WeLoveYouJade."

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