Barbra Streisand Reveals Shocking Weight Loss Wars: ‘I Am A Food Addict’ [Video]
At 72, Barbra Streisand is an entertainment legend. But when it comes to her personal life, she only now is ready to make a shocking health confession. Streisand says that her weight has been a life-long struggle, and that she views herself as a food addict, reported ABC News.
Barbra opened up about her battle with dieting and food addiction during a visit to The Dr. Oz Show. Although she planned her appearance to discuss her campaign about women’s heart disease, Streisand unexpectedly revealed her weight loss wars and trigger foods.
“I love coffee ice cream, and we go to friends’ houses and I can’t resist even the bread. I am a food addict. Tell you the truth. I am literally a food addict. I cannot stay away from foods that I love, which are bad for me — you know, like carbs that are bad.”
But Streisand shifted the discussion to her campaign, which is called Fight the Ladykiller, as the Inquisitr reported. In particular, Barbra is concerned that research on heart disease focuses on male patients. Consequently, her campaign seeks to encourage women to understand the symptoms and risks of heart disease while advocating for a change in how research is conducted.
When women visit a physician or emergency room with symptoms that do not resemble male patients with heart disease, they often are not diagnosed initially, accused Streisand.
“Therefore you could go home the next day after the doctor has said take an antacid or an aspirin. And then, a lot of women — stories that I’ve heard — the next day they’re dead in their living room because they weren’t taken seriously again.”
What’s the solution? Barbra urged women to take responsibility for their health and be proactive about recognizing symptoms and risk factors.
“Women should understand that because they now go to work and take care of the family, really, they’re the center of the family. They will put other things ahead of themselves, so they have to know: Get heart checked.”
“When you go to your doctor, you ask for an EKG, tell them your family history. Know your cholesterol, your blood pressure and so forth.”
Barbra also appeared on Meredith Vieira’s talk show to discuss her campaign, shown below.
As for Streisand herself, putting work first has propelled her in her career success, she admits. And that sometimes has meant neglecting the time needed to plan a healthy diet or exercise.
“So I’m still a work in progress, as far as nutrition,” she confessed to Dr. Oz.
Although Barbra did not call herself a food addict, she previously admitted her frustration with her weight to Sky News.
“Having to worry about holding my tummy in when I’m on stage or something… I like to eat and I hate exercise, what are you going to do?”
“I have to force myself to exercise and force myself to diet, but I have limits to it … I have to enjoy life, eating is so much a part of life to me.”
Despite her frustration about her diet, Streisand is pushing forward with her desire to change the way that women’s heart disease is viewed by physicians, even tweeting an announcement of her appearance on the Dr. Oz Show.
Don't miss @BarbraStreisand on The Dr. Oz Show this Tuesday (12/9) – Check local listings. #FightTheLadyKiller pic.twitter.com/29kpFThlhd
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) December 7, 2014
[Image via Dr. Oz Show]
