Mel C Gets Candid About An Eating Disorder She Developed During Her Spice Girls Days

Mel C said being catapulted into the spotlight as Sporty Spice in the Spice Girls led her to develop an eating disorder. The solo singer-songwriter sat down in a candid interview and discussed her past struggles with food. Mel said being in the spotlight at a young age made her self-conscious of her body, leading to poor body image, according to BBC Good Food.

“I joined the Spice Girls when I was 20 and it was an insane time. I developed an eating disorder… I was in the spotlight, being photographed constantly, and I started to become self-conscious of my body image.”

Melanie Chisholm, 42, says she was in denial about her eating disorder, but she knew she wanted to get better. Mel C decided to take a more of a holistic approach to life. According to WebMD, Holistic medicine is a form of healing that considers the whole person including the body, mind, spirit, and emotions, in the quest for optimal health and wellness. Melanie decided this was her way to a healthier life.

“I was in denial for a long time but I always wanted to get better — I had talking therapies and holistic therapies, like acupuncture… Sport became really important to me too.”

For Mel C and many others with an eating disorder, part of the problem with working through the disorder is a lack of understanding of proper eating.

“When I was a teenager, I didn’t know the difference between a protein and a carb.”

Melanie said she now understands the importance of a proper diet and regular exercise, noting a combination of the two helps her perform at her peak. Fitness and a great diet helped her recover from the serious disorder.

“I love to be physically fit and, obviously, to really push yourself, you have to make sure you eat the right things… I like to think I have a healthy relationship with food now, and I love to cook. We’re so much more aware of nutrition nowadays.”

Since Mel C has gone going solo, she has released seven albums and sold over 12 million records worldwide. Chisholm said her latest single, “Version Of Me,” is about bullying and how being placed in similar frightening situations could mold a young adult.

Mel C told Attitude that she is a lot more confident due to her age. Mel revealed there were people who took advantage of her when she was just starting out in the music industry. The former Spice Girl said she now understands how to assert herself.

“… When I was younger I let people s*** on me. What’s done is done but I’d have liked to have been a bit stronger.”

As for an upcoming Spice Girls reunion, Chisholm has made it clear that she really isn’t on board, according to Entertainment Tonight. Mel explained that the women have grown into four individuals who have gone their own separate ways and seek different things out of life.

When Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, and Geri Horner attempted to regroup the former hitmakers, Mel struggled to come to a decision. Melanie then revealed she was relieved that she and Victoria Beckham would not be participating in the reunion and claimed she was bullied during her time in the Spice Girls.

Mel said she shared a life-changing experience with the ladies, but they would often go for months without speaking to one another, according to the Daily Mail.

Chisholm isn’t shying away from the spotlight. The health advocate shared a topless photo of herself in the same week that Spice Girls alum Mel B also posted a racy nude photo.

[Featured Image by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images]