(Cover) - EN Showbiz - LeAnn Rimes has claimed that speculation over her weight feels like bullying.

The singer has recently been in the press over her dramatic weight loss. On the Ellen DeGeneres show LeAnn expressed for the first time how it feels to be the centre of so much negative attention.

"These are diseases and [the press are] using them as name calling," she told Ellen. "It's almost bullying."

Speculation began over LeAnn's weight back in August, when pictures surfaced showing her looking very slim in a bikini.

The How Do I singer has hit back at the rumours and is adamant she has lost weight through a healthy diet and fitness regime. She confirmed that she is not suffering from an eating disorder.

"[I'm] not anorexic in any way or bulimic at all," she clarified. "No, I am not but I do feel like the press they've been very irresponsible calling a lot of people, fat or anorexic or bulimic or whatever it may be."

LeAnn's husband Eddie Cibrian supported her claims earlier this week. The actor told Access Hollywood that LeAnn is far from ill.

"She eats pretty healthy, but she works out pretty hard too, and she actually takes pride in the way she looks," Eddie revealed. "It's a shame that people will jump on the bandwagon just because she is fit. She's far from unhealthy." (C) Cover Media