Jade Goody - addicted to slimming pills

24 September 2007 - Jade Goody has confessed she was addicted to slimming pills.

The shamed 'Big Brother' star told Sir Trevor McDonald in a frank TV interview for the 'Tonight' show that she became hooked on slimming pills containing amphetamines after being nicknamed 'Miss Piggy' on the reality show in 2002.

She became so dependent on the pills that she even resorted to mixing them with absinthe at a children's birthday party.

And mother-of-two Jade - who has released three fitness videos - also confided in the veteran TV presenter about her battle with eating disorder bulimia.

She said: "I've done so much damage to my body through taking those pills and making myself sick. I've gone down that road and I don't want to go back."

A source close to the reality TV star said: "Jade has had a testing year and put on weight again after suffering a miscarriage, break-up and the race row. She's very honest with Sir Trevor about her weight battle, but also makes it clear that she started taking the pills again."

Jade, 26 - who was branded a racist bully following her appearance on 'Celebrity Big Brother' earlier this year - also turned down the opportunity to promote herbal slimming pills 'Slim N' Sexy' in 2006, on a "matter of principle".

At the time she said: "After writing about my experiences with my weight in my autobiography, I simply couldn't be associated with a slimming product, no matter how good it is.

"The bulimia was not because I felt fat. It was because I couldn't deal with certain things and the only way to feel better was to be in control of something."

Jade's confession will be screened on ITV's 'Tonight' special next month.

(C) BANG Media International