On the edge of the abyss: how a young Scottish woman weighing 25 kg was able to overcome anorexia

The girl, who suffered from anorexia, was able to overcome a serious disorder and started life with a clean slate. Ellie Spofforth, 18, from Shetland, lost up to 25kg and was bedridden for two months. The girl began to worry about "excess weight", even when she was in elementary school. As a result, the Scottish woman almost went to the other world. Music helped her to recover and return love to her body. Read the story of the girl's miraculous recovery further in our article.

As a child, Ellie always loved to eat delicious food. She liked to cook, and she often baked sweets for the family. The girl began to laugh because of the excess weight in elementary school, and in middle school, the Scot decided to go on a strict diet.

As a result, until the age of 16, the situation worsened: Ellie relieved her stomach of everything she ate during the day, causing vomiting. The girl hid her "diet" from her parents and burned the remaining calories by walking 30,000 steps a day. She was soon diagnosed with depression and anorexia nervosa.

Ellie hid her terrible thinness under baggy clothes and wore leg weights and a bulky vest to appear heavier when weighed by the doctor. In March 2018, the girl was forced to be placed in a psychiatric hospital in Dundee, where she spent a whole year. However, the Scot says the treatment there has done her more harm than good. She was surrounded by sick people, which led to a deterioration in her mental health. In addition, Ellie managed to induce vomiting after meals and in the hospital.

In March 2019, the girl was finally discharged from the hospital. The Scottish woman was completely depressed, her disorder worsened, but she continued to hide her inner struggle from her family. Due to the lack of nutrients, the hair on the head fell out in bunches, and on the body, on the contrary, actively grew — so the body tried to protect itself from hypothermia. The girl had neither strength nor energy.

Soon, Ellie began to fear that she would simply not survive. She wrote her mother a note stating her real weight and confessed to an eating disorder. At that time, the Scottish woman weighed only 25 kg. The parents immediately took their daughter to the same hospital where the girl was previously. Since her condition was critical, she was immediately placed in a hospital for another year.

In May 2020, Ellie turned 18 and was transferred to the Adult Eating Disorder Unit in Aberdeen. There, the girl was finally able to concentrate on her rehabilitation. The hospital staff made sure that she stopped throwing up after each meal, stopping the bad habit.

The Scotswoman followed a strict meal plan — three main meals and three snacks. After six months in the hospital, the girl was discharged.

Ellie now lives with her parents in Aberdeen. She managed to gain 19 kg. The girl continues to observe the diet, which was compiled by specialists. Doctors believe that until January, the Scottish woman will fully recover from anorexia.

The girl says that she feels better now than ever. She has gained confidence and can control her behavior. Music helped Ellie survive the most difficult times — the Scottish woman writes songs, sings and plays the guitar. Art inspired her to fight the disease.

Another British woman, Connie Inglis, has struggled with anorexia since the age of 10. She weighed as much as a five-year-old, but managed to beat the disease, and now inspires others on social media.