It seems that doctors overseeing Cheryl Cole’s recovery from malaria have advised her that she’s taking longer than she should to get well because of her poor dietary habits.

Apparently, Cheryl rarely “has time” to eat proper meals, and instead eats sugary foods to give her an energy boost.

The Daily Mail quotes an X Factor insider as saying, “Cheryl would find it hard to find time to have a snack during the day.

“At times, Cheryl has been so busy that the best she could manage to have is sweets and Coke to give her an energy boost.”

And Designer Matthew Williamson, who’s a close friend of Cheryl’s added, “Every time I’m with her she’s always got a Mars bar, or she’s drinking a full-fat Coke…

“And I say, ‘How do you keep so thin, Cheryl?’ and she goes, ‘I’m naturally thin’.”