Hitmaker and American Idol judge Kara Dioguardi has revealed she underwent treatment for a binge eating disorder. The celebrated singer/songwriter, who has penned hits for Kylie Minogue, Celine Dion and Kelly Clarkson, among others, opened up about her painful secret during an interview with Extra, which will air on Thursday (April 23). She said,

"I've never spoken about this... had kind of a binge eating disorder, where instead of dealing with my emotions, I would stuff them down with food."

"I never threw up or starved myself but I went into a treatment centre for it!  I would get up and eat in the middle of the night."

She admits music was her salvation:

"The moment I started doing music, the moment I did what I loved to do in my life and committed to it, I didn't have those problems anymore... I have my outlet. I have that form of expression. I can go to the studio and talk about my feelings."

Those feelings have become hits like Dion's "Right In Front Of You," Minogue's "Spinning Around" and "Escape" by Enrique Iglesias. And now the hitmaker is helping other troubled youngsters at Los Angeles treatment centre Phoenix House, by helping to fund a recording studio which is being built for residents.