Jesy Nelson, from girl group Little Mix, has opened up about her weight struggle and admitted that catering at The X Factor was far from nutritious.

Speaking to Now magazine, the 'DNA' songstress explained that she gained the pounds by eating at the programme's canteen but has been able to get back into the shape by working out properly:

'This is what's happened. When I first auditioned for The X Factor, I was the size I am now. But I put on weight during the show and got much bigger."

"There's this bloody canteen there and I was having three big meals a day. I'd never have eaten like that if I was at home. But it was a vicious circle - because I was so drained and tired, I ate to give myself energy. Now I've got back to my normal routine, so I've lost weight again."

The star added that she doesn't feel pressured to 'be skinny', but prefers keeping herself trim because it makes singing and dancing a lot easier and less exhausting: "It's not because we feel we need to be skinny."

"It's about our fitness on stage. We love to dance but it makes it hard to sing, so you have to eat well and be fit."

Watch Little Mix perform an acapella version of 'DNA' below: