Investigative journalist Ian Halperin published a startling new article detailing the issues Lady Gaga reportedly struggles with, including drug problems and eating disorders.

[photogallerylink id=57737 align=left]According to the piece in Star magazine (via RadarOnline), Halperin has spent the past year investigating Gaga for a book project.

That didn’t stop him from putting out the revealing Star article, which details unhealthy eating disorders from Mother Monster.

“Those who have worked with her on tour reported to me that Gaga barely ate for weeks at a time to fit into her costume,” says Halperin. “She is sick and obsessed with her weight.

“One friend told me, Gaga will stare at herself in the mirror for hours on end, analyzing and critiquing her body.”

Halperin also reports that Gaga’s heavy makeup is more about covering up the effects of lupus, which she recently admitted to having.

“Part of the reason she wears wigs and makeup is because her hair is falling out and she’s covered in red blotches, both side effects of the disease,” says Halperin in the report.

The shocking details still do not end there. Halperin also claims Gaga is a prolific drug user, having at least experimented with “every drug conceivable.” This has led to Lady Gaga being merely a character, and the person formerly known to her family as Stefi has “all but disappeared.”

Though this article could easily be accused of sensationalism and perhaps even libelous, if any of these reports are true then Gaga may be much more of a tortured monster than anyone ever believed.

These accusations could still only improve her qualities as a performer, though.

Gaga hasn’t slowed a bit on her tour around the world in support of Born This Way. She performed “Hair” live in France last week, in BOTH English and French!

Could someone as “sick” and “obsessed” as Halperin claims actually perform that well in front of a live audience? You’d figure she would suffer some sort of public meltdown, like Amy Winehouse.

If these reports are indeed true and not embellished, then we should all hope Mother Monster gets better as soon as possible. Pop music can’t afford to lose its Queen.

Lady Gaga – “Hair” (live) Taratata (French TV)