In a new controversial book entitled Backstage Pass VIP, author Debra Sharon Davis is making some shocking claims about rock icon John Lennon having an eating disorder. Even going so far as to say the rocker had “fetishes and obsessions” with food.

The book purports that the legend suffered from bulimia and even gives some accounts of his condition from his close friend and fellow musician Harry Nilson.

In an interview given before he died Nilson claims, “John and I were having a heart-to-heart. Then all of a sudden John went off about how powerful men had ravenous appetites and wanted to swallow the world whole. And he thought that was why he had this horrible problem – being hungry all the time and overeating.”

Because eating disorders went largely undiagnosed during Lennon’s time, it is fair to assume that the rocker would not have known what he was suffering from. Davis, expounds:

“One must also realise that at that time the public and the media were unaware of bulimia as an addiction and health risk – which made it all the more frightening for John Lennon. He literally had no point-of-reference on what he was experiencing.”

Davis, a pop culture historian, reports further in her book:

“Lennon loved eating huge bowls of Rice Krispies with large scoops of ice cream on top. He enjoyed putting ice cream on everything when he could.”

The author says that her inspiration for writing the book is to present the human side of celebrities, and the very real struggles they contend with.