Mariah Carey is reportedly planning a stint at a weight-loss retreat.

The 'Hero' singer is said to have gained almost 60lbs over the past year and is turning to diet and fitness experts to help her shed the weight and regain her self-control.

A source said: "It's the last thing Mariah thought she'd have to do but she wants to book a stay at a high-end treatment centre in California or New York as soon as her schedule permits.

"She wants to get things under control and to drop at least 50lbs."

The 47-year-old singer - who has six-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe with ex-husband Nick Cannon - has decided to take drastic action after realising her old quick fixes were "not enough" to solve her problems this time round.

The source added to heat magazine: "Mariah has realised that she may have a major issue with overeating and it's impacting her life in a negative way.

"In the old days, she would have just had surgery - like lipodissolve - and hit the gym for a bit if she'd put on weight, but that's not enough now.

"She feels the stress of raising her kids, plus a punishing schedule, has totally destroyed her self-control."

Mariah recently admitted that despite being one of the best-selling musicians of all time, she still suffers from low self-esteem.

The 'We Belong Together' hitmaker admitted to having fragile self-confidence and said she can still vividly remember being a poor aspiring singer.

Mariah explained: "I just feel like I am a regular human being and I deserve the same respect as anybody else.

"I have always had low self-esteem, and people do not recognise that."

She claimed, too, that her biracial background has led her to question her own social standing.

Mariah reflected: "Growing up different, being biracial, having the whole thing where I did not know if I fit in ... That is why music became such a big part of my life, because it helped me overcome those issues.

"Sometimes it is hard to let your guard down."