Rosie O'Donnell compares her sugar addiction to being an 'alcoholic' as she reveals challenges of healthy eating



Her unhealthy lifestyle was one of the reasons she suffered a near fatal heart attack back in 2012.



And now, despite her healthier lifestyle, Rosie O'Donnell still gets the urge to grab sweets in the same way an alcoholic needs the bottle.



She even likened sugar to heroin as she discussed the challenges she faces as she tries to eat well and live healthily.



Sugarholic: Rosie O'Donnell, pictured Thursday, admitted she is addicted to sweets and compared it to being an alcoholic

The former chat show favourite underwent gastric sleeve surgery last July, and recently tweeted a picture of herself, which she captioned, 'Almost 50 lbs. off – I can see it now.'



However she the 52-year-old still finds it a struggle, and told People: 'I read in a magazine article that sugar is eight times more addictive than heroin.

'Because of giving up sugar, I walk past one of those kiosks selling newspapers and I'm like, 'There's the Swedish Fish. They're right there.'

Then and now: Rosie O'Donnell tweeted a snapshot of herself last month showing the difference in her 50lb weight loss

Addicted: The former television host admit she cannot stand the temptation when she sees Swedish Fish

'Almost like how alcoholics can't go into a bar. They want to grab the bottle, I want to do that with the Swedish Fish.'

However she is determined to maintain her discipline so she can be 'totally heart healthy.'

The television personality was lucky to survive after an artery became 99 per cent blocked, and needed a stent inserted after her heart attack in 2012.



Piling on the pounds: And the overweight star, seen her in 2010, ended up suffering a near fatal heart attack

Rosie said: 'It means to be a certain weight that doesn't put stress on your heart. To exercise every day, to be aware of your blood pressure, and all of your heart stats.'

And the star has already noticed a massive improvement thanks to her new regime.



She said: 'I feel a lot better. I got very scared when I had a heart attack and they told me I really should not have survived it.

