Demi Lovato reaches out to those with eating disorders at Thanksgiving

Demi Lovato has shared a touching message with people recovering from eating disorders this Thanksgiving, urging them to remember it's not just about food.

America celebrates the annual holiday on Thursday (26Nov15), with families traditionally tucking into a lavish meal of turkey and all the trimmings. As someone who has suffered with an eating disorder in the past, Demi knows how tough this time of year can be.

"For anyone in recovery who gets anxiety about Thanksgiving, just remember.. It's about giving thanks not just the food #staystrong," she reminded her followers on Twitter.

Demi, 23, spent time in rehab to overcome her eating disorder and struggles with substance abuse. She's now clean and is keen to help fans, appearing in a candid documentary for MTV in 2012 and publishing an encouraging book called Staying Strong in 2013.

She tends to spend the holidays with her family in Texas but has previously opened up about the anxiety she experiences.

“Thanksgiving is a lot of food, and it’s a really triggering holiday for anyone with an eating disorder,” she shared in the documentary.

While the singer did tuck into the spread her loved ones lay on, it left her wracked with guilt afterwards.

“Yesterday was just a bad day in general," she sighed at the time of filming. "I think the thought of all the food I ate on Thanksgiving Day was in my head. I didn’t think I was going to make the whole day without throwing up.”

Luckily Demi had a sponsor who was able to help her through the low point. But while she feels better these days, the star knows it's not as easy as "mending" an object.

“I don’t think I’m fixed," she said on the programme. "People think that you’re like a car in a body shop. You go in, they fix you, and you’re out. It takes constant fixing.”