DioGuardi opens up about eating disorder

American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi has spoken out about her battle with an eating disorder.

The songwriter, 38, confessed that she visited a treatment centre to deal with the disorder, which involved late night food binges.

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

"I never threw up or starved myself. It was an eating disorder. I actually went into a treatment centre for it...I would get up and eat in the middle of the night."

DioGuardi blamed her health problems on a lack of creative outlets during her youth and insecurities when growing up.

"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," she said. "I have my outlet. I have that form of expression. I can go to the studio and talk about my feelings."

DioGuardi has built a studio at an LA treatment centre, where she currently works with children to help them find confidence through music.