Is Excess Weight Worse Than Addiction?

Is it worse to be fat in Hollywood than to be a drug addict?

Maybe. There’s certainly more of a stigma attached to being overweight in a world where looks are everything.

In an US Weekly cover story, reality star and singer Kelly Osbourne recently said, “I took more hell for being fat than I did for being an absolute raging drug addict.”

Osbourne, who has done three stints in treatment for drug and alcohol addiction and recently lost 42 pounds, admits she found her weight issue the harder habit to kick.

Addiction for Weight Loss

Sometimes, the quest to get or stay thin can even push someone into addiction. Former Jenny Craig spokesperson Kirstie Alley has publically admitted to a cocaine problem in the late-‘70s. "One great way to lose weight is to become a hopeless drug addict,” she said. “I've tried it and it really does work. It's just that it wrecks your life at the same time.” Alley has more recently launched her own organic weight loss program and continues to battle her weight.

It’s a positive change that admitting to an addiction and getting help is no longer a career killer. In fact, many musicians and actors even follow up treatment with a “tell all” magazine cover story or book, serving as an inspiration for others struggling with an addiction. If our increasing obsession with weight continues, it’s sure to push more women into addiction, either to escape the pain of body image issues or because they believe it will help them control their weight.

Addiction Treatment

If you or someone you love is battling an addiction, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.