Disney star Demi stops tour to go into rehab

Demi Lovato, one of Disney's biggest names, has checked herself into a treatment centre to deal with "emotional and physical issues".

The 18-year-old singer/actress -- who has battled eating disorders and self-mutilation in the past -- pulled out of a tour to enter a rehab facility.

Lovato is getting "medical treatment for emotional and physical issues she has dealt with for some time", a spokeswoman said in a statement.

"Demi has a long history of battling these issues. She was bullied in school, has fought through eating disorders, and has struggled with cutting."

Lovato had been on a Latin American tour with fellow Disney pop heroes the Jonas Brothers before cancelling her remaining commitments over the weekend. She dated middle sibling Joe Jonas earlier this year.

The Texan native got her big break as the star of the 2008 Disney Channel TV movie Camp Rock, playing a working-class girl who falls for Joe Jonas' arrogant rock-star character. A sequel came out two months ago.

She released her debut album later in 2008 -- Don't Forget peaked at No 2 in the US pop chart -- and her own Disney Channel series, Sonny With A Chance, premiered in early 2009.

Her follow-up album, Here We Go Again, topped the chart in July 2009. Lovato co-wrote a song about her estranged father, For The Love Of The Daughter, but it was dropped from the album at the last minute.

She collaborated on two other tracks with singer/guitarist John Mayer.

hnews@herald.ie