Leena Watts
In her 2020 memoir, Open Book, Jessica Simpson revealed that she had been taking diet pills for 20 years, starting at the age of 17. Simpson, who is 5'3 ,weighed 118 lbs. at the time. She was told by music executive Tommy Mottola that she needed to lose 15 lbs. to become Jessica Simpson. This led her to go on an extremely strict diet and start taking diet pills. Simpson also battled alcohol addiction and pill addiction, entering recovery in November 2017.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for taking diet pills | Told to lose weight by music executive Tommy Mottola at Columbia Records |
| Age when instructed to lose weight | 17 |
| Height | 5'3" |
| Weight at the time | 118 pounds |
| Weight after taking diet pills | 103 pounds |
| Years of diet pill use | 20 |
| Sobriety | Sober for over two years as of 2020 |
| Recovery from alcohol and pill addiction | Entered recovery in November 2017 |
| Weight loss after third pregnancy in 2019 | 100 pounds |
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What You'll Learn
Jessica Simpson's 20-year diet pill addiction
In her 2020 memoir, *Open Book*, Jessica Simpson revealed that she took diet pills for 20 years. The singer said that a music executive, Tommy Mottola, told her to lose weight following an audition on her 17th birthday. Simpson, who is 5'3" , weighed 118 lbs. at the time. "I immediately went on an extremely strict diet and started taking diet pills, which I would do for the next 20 years," she writes.
Mottola offered her a record contract with Columbia Records, but under one condition: "You gotta lose 15 pounds. That's what it will take to be Jessica Simpson," he said. Simpson recalled thinking, "What? I was five-foot-three and weighed 118." She said she hoped he would help her the way he did superstars Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Jennifer Lopez.
Simpson's body was scrutinized at every size. Whether she was praised for her rock-hard abs (and curves) as Daisy Duke in the 2005 film *The Dukes of Hazzard* or castigated for wearing "mom jeans" at a 2009 concert—her figure (then a size four) was dissected from every angle. "We all see our flaws, and mine were just there for the world to rip apart. They weren’t even flaws! They were made into flaws that I didn’t even know I had," she told *People*. "It’s insane what can make a headline."
Simpson also battled alcohol addiction and pill addiction, entering recovery in November 2017. She has been sober for over two years and hopes to help others. "When I work out, a lot of it is to release anxiety—that’s one of my tools for sobriety," she says. "I just thank God that times are changing and people are standing up for themselves and not making it about body image. I hope I can be part of that change and that my daughters will grow up in a world where they can accept themselves at any size."
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Simpson's body image issues
Jessica Simpson has had a difficult relationship with her body over the years, facing intense scrutiny and pressure from the music industry, the media, and the public.
Her body image issues began at the start of her career when, at just 17 years old, she was told by music executive Tommy Mottola that she needed to lose 15 pounds to be successful in the industry. This led to her taking diet pills and adopting an extremely strict diet, which she maintained for 20 years. Simpson also struggled with alcohol addiction, using alcohol to cope with the pressure and trauma of the industry, and to help her fall asleep. She has spoken about hearing critical voices in her head, even when taking sleeping pills, such as "do more sit-ups, fat ass".
Simpson's body was celebrated when she played Daisy Duke in the 2005 film *The Dukes of Hazzard*, but she was also ridiculed and scrutinized for her appearance. She was fat-shamed for wearing "mom jeans" at a 2009 concert, despite being a size four at the time. Simpson has also been criticized for looking "less than slender" while performing and has faced negative attention for her weight fluctuations over the years.
The constant pressure to look a certain way took a toll on Simpson's mental health and self-image. She has spoken about the impact of this scrutiny, saying, "It’s insane what can make a headline," and "We all see our flaws, and mine were just there for the world to rip apart. They weren’t even flaws! They were made into flaws that I didn’t even know I had."
Simpson has also turned to plastic surgery to alter her body, undergoing two tummy tucks after the birth of her first two children. She has been open about her struggles with body image and addiction, crediting therapy for helping her face these issues. In recent years, Simpson has found solace in Nashville, away from the public eye, and is focusing on her music and her clothing brand, the Jessica Simpson Collection. She is now sober and hopes to be part of a positive change in how women view their bodies, saying, "I hope my daughters will grow up in a world where they can accept themselves at any size."
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The impact of the media on her addiction
The media played a significant role in Jessica Simpson's addiction to diet pills. From the very beginning of her career, the media scrutinized and commented on her body image and weight fluctuations, which took a toll on her self-image and mental health.
After being told to lose weight by a music executive at the start of her career, Simpson took diet pills for 20 years to maintain her weight. During this time, she faced constant media attention and criticism regarding her appearance and weight. In 2005, her body was celebrated for its appearance in the film "The Dukes of Hazzard", but she was also ridiculed for wearing "mom jeans" during a performance in 2009. The media's focus on her body and appearance contributed to the pressure she felt to stay thin and may have influenced her decision to continue taking diet pills.
Simpson's weight and appearance were often used as a way to generate headlines and sell tabloids. For example, pictures of her wearing "mom jeans" and looking "less than slender" were published in the tabloids, with captions ridiculing her appearance. This type of media coverage likely intensified the pressure she felt to conform to unrealistic beauty standards and may have contributed to her addiction.
Additionally, Simpson's weight loss was often used as a selling point for various products and programs. For example, after losing 100 pounds following the birth of her third child in 2019, her trainer, Harley Pasternak, promoted their work together and the specific habits and routines she adopted to lose the weight. This type of marketing strategy, which capitalizes on Simpson's weight loss journey and struggle with addiction, contributes to a culture that values thinness above all else.
Simpson has also faced media speculation and criticism regarding her methods for losing weight. For instance, she has had to address claims that she used Ozempic, a Type 2 diabetes medication sometimes used for weight loss, to slim down. This constant scrutiny and judgment from the media regarding her weight and appearance can create a cycle of body image issues and disordered eating or pill consumption.
Simpson's experience highlights the impact of the media's obsession with body image and weight loss on individuals' mental health and self-worth. The constant pressure to look a certain way and the criticism faced when not conforming to unrealistic beauty standards can contribute to or exacerbate addiction and body image issues.
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The role of a music executive in her addiction
In her memoir, *Open Book*, Jessica Simpson revealed that she was told to lose 15 pounds by Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola after she signed her contract in 1997. Simpson, who was 17 at the time, weighed 118 pounds at a height of 5'3" .''".
Mottola, who was
> "I immediately went on an extremely strict diet and started taking diet pills, which I would do for the next 20 years."
Simpson also writes about the pressures of stardom and how her body was scrutinized at every size. She writes about being praised for her physique as Daisy Duke in the 2005 film *The Dukes of Hazzard* and being castigated for wearing "mom jeans" at a 2009 concert, where her figure was dissected from every angle. Simpson also served as a Weight Watchers spokeswoman, using the program after having her first two children in 2012 and 2013.
Simpson's addiction to diet pills lasted for two decades, and she finally stopped taking them after going into recovery for alcohol and pill addiction in November 2017. In her memoir, she describes her lowest point as a Halloween party in 2017 when she couldn't remember who had dressed up her daughters for the occasion. Simpson has been sober for over two years and hopes to help others struggling with addiction. She has turned her experience into a deeper understanding of her customers while designing her fashion line, the Jessica Simpson Collection.
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Her road to recovery
In November 2017, Jessica Simpson entered recovery for alcohol and diet pill addiction. She had been taking diet pills for 20 years, since she was 17 years old, after being told to lose 15 pounds by a music executive.
Simpson has been sober for over two years and hopes to help others struggling with addiction. She has also found that exercise helps her maintain her sobriety, and she often walks and talks with her husband. She has also spoken about how she no longer weighs herself and doesn't let numbers define her.
Good quality sleep was key to Simpson's recovery. She also unplugged from technology for at least an hour every day, which helped her get a restful night's sleep. Simpson also adopted a healthy eating plan, following a diet of three meals and two snacks each day, with each meal including protein, fibre, and fat, and snacks a combination of protein and fibre or protein and fat.
Simpson has also spoken about how her recovery was about more than just her physical health. She has said that she now accepts herself at any size and hopes that her daughters will grow up in a world where they can do the same.
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Frequently asked questions
Jessica Simpson has not disclosed the name of the diet pills she was addicted to.
Jessica Simpson started taking diet pills at the age of 17 after being told to lose 15 pounds by music executive Tommy Mottola.
Jessica Simpson took diet pills for 20 years.
