The death of British singer Amy Winehouse nearly two years ago, which coroner Suzanne Greenaway described as “death by misadventure,” was already shrouded in controversy. Now her brother has brought into question the cause of Winehouses’s death again, revealing that the singer struggled with bulimia for a decade.

“She suffered from bulimia very badly,” her brother Alex disclosed in an interview with the Observer. “That's not, like, a revelation — you knew just by looking at her… She would have died eventually, the way she was going, but what really killed her was the bulimia.”

Winehouse began bulimic behavior at age 17 while hanging out with girls who did the same, according to her brother. "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 did.”

An eating disorder characterized by binging and purging, bulimia nervosa ruins the body by causing peptic ulcers, esophagitis, and dental erosion. Frequent vomiting or laxative abuse could lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances that may result in death.

Though Coroner Greenaway attributed the official cause of Winehouse’s death to alcohol intoxication, it’s possible her bulimia did play a factor.

“I think that it left her weaker and more susceptible,” Alex continued. "Had she not had an eating disorder, she would have been physically stronger."

Three months after Winehouse was discovered dead in her London home in July 2011, Greenaway announced that Winehouse had 416 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, which is more than five times the federal limit.

Winehouse’s struggle with drugs and alcohol abuse was well documented, both in the media and her songwriting. Dr. Christina Romete, her doctor, said Winehouse had abstained from drinking in the days before her death in an attempt to quit entirely. Winehouse’s father Mitch Winehouse, in an interview with Anderson Cooper after her death, said she stopped taking drugs, including heroin and cocaine, in December 2008.

One month later, Greenaway resigned after it was discovered that she did not have sufficient legal experience. She was appointed to the position by her husband Andrew Reid.

The coroner’s resignation prompted the Winehouse’s family to reconsider further investigation of the cause of her death, but no such action was taken.

Her father speculated that Winehouse died from seizures resulting from a Librium (chlordiazepoxide) overdose, which she took to alleviate anxiety and agitation caused by alcohol withdrawal.

Known as one of the most talented vocalists of her generation, Winehouse won five Grammys, including Best New Artist, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year in 2006 for her album Back to Black. Her personal life is featured in an exhibit at the Jewish Museum of London titled "Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait."

"She was annoying, frustrating, a pain in the bum. But she was also incredibly generous, very caring," Alex Winehouse said, promoting the exhibit. "She was a really good person. And horrible in other respects."