10-calories-a-day diet nearly killed woman with anorexia

A young woman who ate just 10 calories a day while in the grip of anorexia has spoken of how she fought her way back from the brink of death.

Beth Hall, 24, from Cambridge, plummeted to a tiny 4st 13lb after battling the horrific eating disorder since her teenage years - while working in a chocolate shop.

Tormented by bullies at school, she began a strict diet regime at the age of 16, living off nothing more than black tea and coffee.

Determined to lose weight, she would often go for up to three days without eating a single thing.

But after years of turmoil, she was finally admitted to an eating disorder clinic.

And after making a full recovery, she is now a healthy size 8 and studying graphics at university.

Miss Hall said: 'I'm so relieved that I have managed to maintain a healthy weight after battling anorexia.

'It didn't matter how many pounds I dropped, I would always see a fat pig when I looked in the mirror.

'I would ditch my lunch at school and when my mum was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2008 I was able to disguise my eating habits as she was having treatment in hospital.'

She admits she would go up to three days without eating a single thing - but remained adamant there was nothing wrong with her.

'I lived on black coffee and tea which is around 10 calories per day, I was starving my body so badly that I couldn't even think straight,' she recalled.

Miss Hall was forced to drop out of university in 2009 after her eating disorder took control of her life and she struggled to cope with the work load.

She added: 'I couldn't focus on anything but food, my illness was completely out of control and I was getting thinner and thinner by the day.

'I eventually got a job as a sales assistant, ironically in a chocolate shop but I was so weak and I didn't know how much more my body would take.'

Then in 2011, she developed a kidney infection, leading doctors to warn she was risking her life by starving her body.

Beth said: 'The doctor told me he could feel all my organs underneath my skin and that I would end up killing myself if my eating didn't improve.

'I suddenly realised that I needed help and at just 4st 13lbs, I was admitted to an eating disorder ward once my kidney infection cleared up.

'I hated having to gain weight and eating the meals they had given me but I knew I needed to be there.'

This, combined with daily group therapy sessions, saw her begin to make progress - and after four months at the eating disorder clinic, she was allowed home.

'I was finally in control of my own meals again and could attend the therapy sessions as an outpatient,' said Miss Hall. 

Despite suffering a relapse one year later she is now back at university and working part-time.

She said: 'I'm now studying graphic design at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.

'I did suffer a relapse, but the therapy sessions gave me the coping skills I needed to get my eating habits back under control.

'I hope other girls who read my story are able to gain hope from everything I have achieved.

'There is always help available and, despite how isolated you feel, things will get better and you can overcome an eating disorder.' 

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