Winslet wins apology over weight treatment story

Published on Saturday 10 March 2007 00:58

KATE Winslet, an outspoken critic of what she sees as Hollywood's obsession with being skinny, has won an apology over claims that she visited a diet doctor.

The actress accepted a substantial donation to an eating disorder charity in settlement of her libel action,

Winslet, 31, was not at London's High Court to hear her solicitor, Rachel Atkins, tell Mr Justice Eady that the story in Grazia magazine last month caused her personal hurt, distress, anger and embarrassment, as well as damaging her personal and professional reputation.

In the article, Dr Yi Pan discussed the treatments he offered to Hollywood A-listers at his Chinese Healing Institute in California. Ms Atkins said the article wrongly stated that the actress had approached a doctor for help with her weight.

Winslet, through her lawyers, immediately complained to the publisher, Emap London Lifestyle, that the article suggested she had lied to the public when she had said she refused to bow to pressure to be skinny and celebrated her curves.

Ms Atkins said Winslet had been treated by Dr Pan for a neck injury, not weight loss.

She added that Emap had agreed to apologise to Winslet and to pay damages to a charity and her costs.

Winslet said later in a statement that she was "delighted" the matter had been resolved and the record set straight.