Brandy Norwood's Eating Disorder

It looks like Brandy Norwood, 27, will need to get used to vast media attention again soon. She is scheduled to replace Star Jones on The View beginning this Wednesday. If she does well, she'll be offered the contract to co-host the View.

Brandy has had a serious eating disorder in the past. She was most likely anorexic for a couple of years when she was in her teens. At one point while on the set of Moesha, she had to be rushed to the hospital for a three day stay which was described as due to 'dehydration and exhaustion'. There were rumors that she had taken too many diet pills, but this is apparently untrue, Brandy may have been anorexic but she did not take diet pills. Apparently at one point her weight got as low as 105 pounds.

Later Brandy took part in hosting a segment on BodyWise; an initiative to encourage young girls to have better self-esteem about their bodies and to educate young women on the dangers of eating disorders. Here she told young girls that "eating the right foods and staying active are ways to stay fit. It isn't what others say about you, it's what you say and do to yourself".... "Being active, like playing a sport, dancing, or exercising are all ways you can keep fit. I take tae-bo classes to maintain a healthy body and spirit."

See the BodyWise page about eating disorders here.

Brandy became famous at a very young age. The pressure and stress must have been partly responsible for her near breakdown and for her decision to leave the limelight for about three years during her early twenties. But during this time, there was little rest either, as she got married, had a baby and got divorced all before the age of 25.

Hopefully this next phase of her dance in the public limelight will go very well for her. I hope she doesn't succumb to pressures to have more cosmetic surgery (just veneers so far I think) or lose even more weight.

Best wishes to Brandy on The View!

Update January 2007: Brandy Norwood was involved in a horrific car crash three weeks ago. She was driving on the Los Angeles freeway when her Land Rover rear-ended another car. The woman in the other car died from the accident after another car hit her because her car veered into another lane. Now Brandy is being sued for manslaughter and $50 million dollars by the woman's family.