Mischa Barton Maxes Out, Seeks Medical Help

July 17, 2009 — -- Skinny vs. bloated. Off the radar vs. all over the news (for all the wrong reasons).

Not to go all Goldilocks on Mischa Barton, but perhaps she should find a middle ground ASAP.

The 23-year-old actress, who has attracted more attention in recent years for her yo-yoing weight and propensity to party than her TV and film roles, missed the New York City premiere of her latest movie, "Homecoming," after being removed from her home by the Los Angeles Police Department Wednesday.

As of late Friday, her publicist, Craig Schneider, said in a statement that Barton remains in the hospital under doctor's orders. The statement does not address Barton's condition.

An LAPD spokeswoman confirmed to ABC News that officers responded to a call at Barton's home Wednesday to assist her with a "medical issue."

While Access Hollywood reported that police placed Barton under an involuntary, 72-hour psychiatric hold (also known as a 5150, the same code used to commit Britney Spears twice in L.A. in 2008), the LAPD would not elaborate on the nature of their role in assisting her or her current health status.

Not true for Barton's publicist. Craig Schneider told People magazine that because of her "celebrity status," Wednesday's police intervention was necessary "to safely transfer her to medical treatment as per doctor's orders."

The incident is the latest twist in the former "O.C." star's roller coaster of health issues. In January, she provoked gasps and gapes when she emerged at Paris Fashion Week looking gaunt, a glittering dress hanging off her frail frame. While critics wondered what caused the once-curvy Barton to whittle down, she defended herself on her blog:

"Things are really well in Mischa world and I've just been watching what I eat," she said. "I still love my pilates and yoga, and have cut back on fatty foods a bit. My time in India and Paris really just helped me lose a little bit of weight but there's nothing drastic going on!"

But it seems Barton took some of the body buzz to heart. In the past five months, she's slid to the other side of the spectrum. The Barton's puffy, makeup-caked face bears little resemblance to the concave cheeks she sported earlier this year.