Alex, 33, said that his sister's long battle with bulimia left her weak and more susceptible, reported Guardian online.
"She would have died eventually, the way she was going, but what really killed her was the bulimia", Alex said.
According to her brother, who was speaking to mark the opening of an exhibition dedicated to his sister's life in north London, her system had been fatally weakened by years of bulimia, a disease in which bouts of extreme overeating are followed by depression and self-induced vomiting.
Alex also revealed that Winehouse had developed bulimia in her late teens and had never shaken off the illness.
"My sister had a group of friends who were all doing it. They'd put loads of rich sauces on their food, scarf it down and throw it up.
"They stopped doing it, but Amy never really stopped. We all knew she was doing it but it's almost impossible to tackle, especially if you're not talking about it," he added.
Winehouse, won five Grammy awards for her 'Back to Black' album, died in July 2011 at the age of 27.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
