Madonna sparks health fears

Showbiz

09:30 20 January 2006

Madonna has sparked health fears after friends claimed she is looking skinny and exhausted.

The pop diva's pals are reportedly worried she is taking her punishing exercise regime too far - and is jeopardising her health.

An insider told America's New York Daily News newspaper: "She looks way too thin. It's scary. Everyone around her is buzzing that she's working herself into exhaustion."

The singer is said to be following a gruelling fitness programme, including two to three hours a day of yoga and Pilates, plus swimming, weight training and cycling.

The 47-year-old star recently admitted she likes keeping in shape for her husband, director Guy Ritchie.

She told Elle magazine: "I wish I were comfortable to be a big woman.

"But I choose men who like carved-out women, the can-you-run-for-the-bus kind of guy."

Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, admits the singer looked tired in some recent photos, but insists it's because she has been rehearsing for her new video.

She said: "I'm about 40 feet away from her and she looks pretty hot to me."

Rosenberg added: "How would you look with 10-hour dance rehearsals?

"Maybe she's working harder than usual, but that's what you have to do before a video."

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