From My Family, The Jacksons by Katherine Jackson:
On pg. 145, Katherine speaks about Michael weight, even though hesaid that food was the only thing in his whole life that he had control over, everything else was controlled:
The other key to his good health, I believe, had been his diet. Before Michael had left on tour, his doctor had insisted that he go on a high protein diet, including fish, so that he'd be able to keep his stamina up. Michael had reluctantly agreed. Even before Michael became a vegetarian in the late seventies, worried about his lack of interest in food. When the family would go out for hot-fudge sundaes, be the only one who wouldn't want one. I'm not hungry he'd say. Now what kid turns down a hot fudge sundae? I'm ashamed to admit that sometimes La Toya and I would eat two of them a day. After Michael took Jermaine's lead and decided to forgo meat, he became even less interested in eating then before. He employed a full time chef, but I dont know why he bothered. When she took him his food, he'd eat two tablespoons then leave the rest. If I didnt eat to live, I'd never eat em he told me. One day a week Michael fasted, I'm cleaning my body out, which is a healthy thing to do, he explained. But instead of laying low that day to conserve his energy, Micheal would dance non-stop for two hours on his portable dance floor. Michael enjoyed having the last word in our arguments about his diet. You're always worrying about me being too skinny he'd say, but you know what? My doctor told me I was in number one shape. So stop worrying about me. I should be worried about you. You're the one who keeps putting all the bad stuff into your body. But the Victory tour had gotten the better of Michael physically. He suffered from exhaustion and dehydration. The memory of his illness was still fresh in his mind when his doctor laid down the law about his diet for his solo tour. I of course, hoped that after a year of eating three square meals a day, Michael had developed a permanent interest in food. But my hope was dashed the first time we talked after I joined him overseas. Happy as he was with the way the tour had gone to that point, he told me, I'll be glad when it's all over, so I can start eating the way I want to again. I'm tired of forcing myself to eat.
From Moonwalk page 227-230
I first became well known, I had a lot of baby fat and a very round, chubby face. That roundness stayed with me until several years ago when I changed my diet and stopped eating beef, chicken, pork and fish, as well as certain fattening foods. I just wanted to look better, live better, and be healthier. Gradually, as I lost weight, my face took on its present shape and the press started accusing me of surgically altering my appearance, beyond the nose job I freely admitted I had, like many performers and film stars.
. . .
I’d like to set the record straight right now. I have never had my cheeks altered or my eyes altered. I have not had my lips thinned, not have I had dermabrasion or a skin peel. All of these charges are ridiculous. If they were true, I would say so, but they aren’t. I have had my nose altered twice and I recently added a cleft to my chin, but that is it. Period. I don’t care what anyone else says it’s my face and I know.
I’m a vegetarian now and I’m so much thinner. I’ve been on a strict diet for years. I feel better than I ever have, healthier and more energetic. I don’t understand why the press is so interested in speculating about my appearance anyway. What does my face have to do with my music or my dancing?