Gemma Oaten opens up about anorexia battle
There's a light at the end of the tunnel
Ex-Emmerdale actress Gemma Oaten joins Fiona Phillips with her mum Marg Oaten to talk about her lengthy battle with anorexia as part of Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
Gemma, best known for playing Rachel Breckle, was just ten years old when she first developed symptoms of the illness while being bullied at school, but claims her initial pleas for help were dismissed by health professionals who didn't take her seriously.
It was after this that Gemma's anorexia got progressively worse and aged 12 she was admitted to a children's psychiatric unit.
Despite being discharged six months later, her battle to beat the disease continued. She spent 10 years receiving help from experts and therapists while on her road to recovery.
But it was the death of a dear friend that marked a turning point in her life.
It was aged 23 - 13 years after first developing her eating disorder - that Gemma finally felt she was properly recovered. Now she wants to draw on her own personal experience to help others.
She is the patron of the charity Seed, set up by her parents to help raise awareness of eating disorders.