‘What Really Killed Her Was The Bulimia': Amy Winehouse’s Brother Details ‘Terrible’ Eating Disorder That Was Singer's Downfall
June 24 2013, Published 4:34 p.m. ET
The older brother of tragic singer Amy Winehouse says it wasn’t drug addiction or alcoholism that killed her, but rather, a "terrible" eating disorder.
In a new interview with The Observer, Alex Winehouse said it was her bulimia that was ultimately to blame.
"She suffered from bulimia very badly. That's not, like, a revelation – you knew just by looking at her… She would have died eventually, the way she was going, but what really killed her was the bulimia… Absolutely terrible," he said.
"I think that it left her weaker and more susceptible. Had she not had an eating disorder, she would have been physically stronger."
Her brother explained that Winehouse -- she was found with alcohol but no illegal substances inside of her body when she died at the age of 27 -- suffered from an eating disorder from the age of 17, in part because she hung out with a group of girls who were “doing it.”
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“They'd put loads of rich sauces on their food, scarf it down and throw it up. Theystopped doing it, but Amy never really did,” he revealed. “We all knew she was doing it, but it's almost impossible to tackle especially if you're not talking about it. It's a real dark, dark issue.”