the early 1980s she would starve herself and use diet pills to stay thin. By the time Heart made a comeback in the mid-'80s, she had gained a significant amount of weight. Fearing that Heart's lead singer's figure would compromise the band's image, record company executives and band members began pressuring her to lose weight. In music videos, camera angles and clothes were often used to minimize her size, and more focus was put on Ann's more slender sister, Nancy. Ann stated she began suffering from stress-related panic attacks due to the negative publicity surrounding her weight. She underwent adjustable gastric band weight-loss surgery in January 2002 after what she called "a lifelong battle" with her weight. In November 2009, Ann collapsed. Doctors found that she had liver disease resulting from alcohol. While she had stopped using other drugs after adopting her daughter, she had increased her alcohol consumption. Nancy and other family members and band crew had been concerned about her for some time, had planned to confront her about it, and had even built a break into a Heart tour to allow Ann an opportunity to obtain treatment. She ultimately underwent therapy on her own. In the band's 2012 autobiography, Ann revealed her past struggles with cocaine and alcoholism. She stated that she had been sober since 2009. Discography Studio albums Extended plays Singles Other appearances Live albums Compilations Notes References External links Official Site of Ann Wilson Official site of Heart 1950 births American flautists American sopranos American women rock singers Living people Musicians from San Diego Musicians from Seattle People from Bellevue, Washington Cornish College of the Arts alumni Heart (band) members 21st-century American women singers American people of French descent American people of Scottish descent 21st-century American singers 21st-century flautists