Denise Richards: 'Too Skinny' Rumors Addressed, Radio Disney Music Awards

Recent rumors claim that Denise Richards, 42, is "too skinny," however Richards and her friends are on the defense explaining that she is healthy as ever.

Richards, who had appeared as a guest on Disney Channel's "Kickin' It," attended the Radio Disney Music Awards on Saturday with her 7-year-old daughter Lola, 7, and her best friends, according to Extra TV.  They were all excited to meet Zendaya, a Disney Channel star and "Dancing with the Stars" contestant.

"I don't know why lately I've been getting so much flack for it... I have a very healthy lifestyle and I'm busy. I have a daughter who's almost 2 that I carry all the time. She's just under 30 pounds," Richards told Extra TV at the awards.

She told Extra TV that she was upset by the rumors because she wants to be a set a good example for her three daughters.  "I'm such an advocate for health and fitness... in moderation," she said.  "We eat ice cream all the time. I had grilled cheese before we got here."

In an interview in 2011, she explained that she works out to stay in shape, not to stay thin, according to The Huffington Post.  "When I exercise I never say I work out to stay thin -- I always use the words healthy and strong," she said.  "I don't obsess about wearing makeup when I leave the house or looking a certain way. I often look frumpy in paparazzi shots because I may just throw myself together going to the park and soccer games."

Her friends support her in these claims as well.  "Denise has always been thin. Her whole family is thin. She hasn't changed anything, her workout is still Pilates. But she is literally on the go non-stop. She's a single mom to three active girls, and sometimes helps Brooke [Mueller] out with her boys. That alone keeps her moving non-stop," a very close friend of Denise's said according to The Huffington Post.

The Huffington Post's source shares her argument that teaching a healthy lifestyle to her children is of essential importance.  "It's important for her to always instill a good, healthy body image to her girls. I don't think she's lost weight, maybe just leaned out a little and certainly not on purpose," the source said.

The spreading rumors also claim that perhaps Richards has developed an eating disorder.  E! News spoke to a source who combats such a claim.  "Everything is fine with Denise. Nothing is wrong. Denise is taking care of her daughters, her dogs and filming her new show. Look at her arms. She is ripped. She carries baby Eloise everywhere. She has always lived a healthy lifestyle, she eats healthy and has done Pilates for years," said the source.

Nancy O'Dell, host of "Entertainment Tonight," agrees that Richards remains fit and active and isn't suffering from an eating disorder of any kind, according to The Huffington Post.  "She has not changed her diet," O'Dell said.  "She does Pilates four times a week for her health ... Now she's lifting baby Eloise and her arms are just more toned... I can vouch that the girl eats a lot. She's just naturally skinny. Her dad is too."

This in-shape mother of three is very busy these days trying to fit in family time in addition to working on her upcoming television mystery series on ABC Family, called "Twisted," according to The Huffington Post.