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| Dad blamed for eating problems | Dad blamed for eating problems |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| By Jaclyn Parry Producer/Director of Born Survivors: My 22 Stone Dad and Skinny Me Emma has an unusual person to blame for her problem with food - her father. | By Jaclyn Parry Producer/Director of Born Survivors: My 22 Stone Dad and Skinny Me Emma has an unusual person to blame for her problem with food - her father. |
| In just 12 months the 15-year-old lost 14lbs (6.35kg), dropping from a size 12 to size 4. | In just 12 months the 15-year-old lost 14lbs (6.35kg), dropping from a size 12 to size 4. |
| At over 22 stone (160kg), her father Grant is clinically obese and Emma has admitted that it was his weight problem that triggered her under-eating. | At over 22 stone (160kg), her father Grant is clinically obese and Emma has admitted that it was his weight problem that triggered her under-eating. |
| Her parents were powerless to help her until six months ago, when Emma finally admitted that she had a serious problem with food. | Her parents were powerless to help her until six months ago, when Emma finally admitted that she had a serious problem with food. |
| Emma lives in Lancaster and is typical of the 1.1 million people in the UK directly affected by an eating disorder. | Emma lives in Lancaster and is typical of the 1.1 million people in the UK directly affected by an eating disorder. |
| This is a serious mental illness, one in five of those severely affected will die and young people between the ages of 14 and 25 are most at risk. | This is a serious mental illness, one in five of those severely affected will die and young people between the ages of 14 and 25 are most at risk. |
| Emma's father's weight has played on her mindEmma's mum, Christine, realised something was wrong as Emma began to lose weight. | |
| "The sizes were getting smaller and smaller and trying to get her to eat was getting harder and harder," she said. | "The sizes were getting smaller and smaller and trying to get her to eat was getting harder and harder," she said. |
| "And then we realised that we did have a big problem." | "And then we realised that we did have a big problem." |
| Once Emma had accepted that she needed help Christine made a doctor's appointment. | Once Emma had accepted that she needed help Christine made a doctor's appointment. |
| "The doctor gave me a booklet on anorexia and there was a quiz to find out if you fit into that category," Emma says. In it she expressed fears about her father's body weight. | "The doctor gave me a booklet on anorexia and there was a quiz to find out if you fit into that category," Emma says. In it she expressed fears about her father's body weight. |
| Getting help tough | Getting help tough |
| Despite the fact that one in 20 young women in the UK will develop an eating disorder, Christine found getting professional help for her daughter was far from easy. | Despite the fact that one in 20 young women in the UK will develop an eating disorder, Christine found getting professional help for her daughter was far from easy. |
| To think that I was making Emma poorly, my only daughter, who I would do anything for - it was heartbreaking GrantEmma's father Emma had lost a significant amount of weight, she was living with a distorted body image and was expressing a fear of food - yet her doctor was unable to refer her for NHS treatment. | To think that I was making Emma poorly, my only daughter, who I would do anything for - it was heartbreaking GrantEmma's father Emma had lost a significant amount of weight, she was living with a distorted body image and was expressing a fear of food - yet her doctor was unable to refer her for NHS treatment. |
| She was told that her body mass index was 0.5 above the level at which a doctor could make an NHS referral. | She was told that her body mass index was 0.5 above the level at which a doctor could make an NHS referral. |
| Even then Emma might have to wait six to 12 months before being seen. | Even then Emma might have to wait six to 12 months before being seen. |
| Effectively, she would have to lose even more weight, simply to get on the waiting list. | Effectively, she would have to lose even more weight, simply to get on the waiting list. |
| A recent statement from the Institute of Psychiatry paints a very similar picture in other parts of the UK. | A recent statement from the Institute of Psychiatry paints a very similar picture in other parts of the UK. |
| It said: "There are sometimes considerable delays between first contact with a GP and the point where appropriate help becomes available and it is important that families are persistent in their request for referral." | It said: "There are sometimes considerable delays between first contact with a GP and the point where appropriate help becomes available and it is important that families are persistent in their request for referral." |
| Much needed help | Much needed help |
| Emma's GP was able to point Emma and her family in the direction of the Eating Disorder Networks, Lancashire's only eating disorders charity and the brainchild of a former sufferer, Sue Gardner. | Emma's GP was able to point Emma and her family in the direction of the Eating Disorder Networks, Lancashire's only eating disorders charity and the brainchild of a former sufferer, Sue Gardner. |
| Mum Christine has found dealing with the problem toughSue Hind, one of the charity's therapists, has been counselling Emma in weekly sessions and aims to help her reach a safe weight of 133lbs (60.3kg). | Mum Christine has found dealing with the problem toughSue Hind, one of the charity's therapists, has been counselling Emma in weekly sessions and aims to help her reach a safe weight of 133lbs (60.3kg). |
| Her first job was to win Emma's trust so that she feels comfortable enough to explore the triggers for her problem with food. | Her first job was to win Emma's trust so that she feels comfortable enough to explore the triggers for her problem with food. |
| "There's nothing I can't tell Sue, she's outside of it so she's easy to talk to. I can tell her things that I can't tell my mum and dad," Emma says. | "There's nothing I can't tell Sue, she's outside of it so she's easy to talk to. I can tell her things that I can't tell my mum and dad," Emma says. |
| "I always thought, well, Dad was big, so that could happen to me. I think I was quite scared of food - scared of what could happen if I had it." | "I always thought, well, Dad was big, so that could happen to me. I think I was quite scared of food - scared of what could happen if I had it." |
| The realisation that he was the main trigger for his daughter's illness was devastating for Grant. | The realisation that he was the main trigger for his daughter's illness was devastating for Grant. |
| "To think that I was making Emma poorly, my only daughter, who I would do anything for - it was heartbreaking," he says. | "To think that I was making Emma poorly, my only daughter, who I would do anything for - it was heartbreaking," he says. |
| Dad signed up | Dad signed up |
| In order to help his daughter's recovery Grant also signed up to therapy. | In order to help his daughter's recovery Grant also signed up to therapy. |
| He has tried lots of diets before and they have always failed. | He has tried lots of diets before and they have always failed. |
| This time, with the help of Sue Gardner, he plans to tackle his obesity once and for all. | This time, with the help of Sue Gardner, he plans to tackle his obesity once and for all. |
| "I've said to Emma that for every 1lb (0.45kg) she puts on I'll try and take 4lbs (1.8kg) off," he said. | "I've said to Emma that for every 1lb (0.45kg) she puts on I'll try and take 4lbs (1.8kg) off," he said. |
| "The fact that I'm trying and Emma sees I'm trying means a lot to her." | "The fact that I'm trying and Emma sees I'm trying means a lot to her." |
| Grant describes how much life has changed since Emma became ill. | Grant describes how much life has changed since Emma became ill. |
| "Every bit of pressure, every challenge through exams, all this comes out in food with Emma or lack of food," he said. | "Every bit of pressure, every challenge through exams, all this comes out in food with Emma or lack of food," he said. |
| "So trying to deal with them altogether is a real mix." | "So trying to deal with them altogether is a real mix." |
| Regular therapy | Regular therapy |
| In addition to the weekly one to one sessions the whole family also gets together with both therapists for fortnightly therapy. | In addition to the weekly one to one sessions the whole family also gets together with both therapists for fortnightly therapy. |
| We want to break bad eating patterns and establish new habits Sue GardnerEating Disorder Networks It is an opportunity to bring to the table things they find hard to talk about when they are alone at home. | We want to break bad eating patterns and establish new habits Sue GardnerEating Disorder Networks It is an opportunity to bring to the table things they find hard to talk about when they are alone at home. |
| Sue Gardner explains how the therapy sessions at EDN work: "We try to lessen the anxiety associated with certain foods or certain situations, and provide (clients) with ways of coping. | Sue Gardner explains how the therapy sessions at EDN work: "We try to lessen the anxiety associated with certain foods or certain situations, and provide (clients) with ways of coping. |
| "We might suggest meditation or distraction techniques, or try to build confidence and social skills. | "We might suggest meditation or distraction techniques, or try to build confidence and social skills. |
| "We want to break bad eating patterns and establish new habits, this can also mean breaking obsessive behavioural habits - they tend to become very rigid about the way they carry out day to day tasks." | "We want to break bad eating patterns and establish new habits, this can also mean breaking obsessive behavioural habits - they tend to become very rigid about the way they carry out day to day tasks." |
| Rituals | Rituals |
| Christine has noticed that Emma and Grant also have individual rituals they follow. | Christine has noticed that Emma and Grant also have individual rituals they follow. |
| "The food issues tie in with the way Grant keeps his clothes, because everything has to be in order," she said. | "The food issues tie in with the way Grant keeps his clothes, because everything has to be in order," she said. |
| "There's even an issue in the food cupboard. When he comes home he likes the labels on the food to be facing the front." | "There's even an issue in the food cupboard. When he comes home he likes the labels on the food to be facing the front." |
| Emma is making progressSue Gardner says that the family sessions focus on communication. | Emma is making progressSue Gardner says that the family sessions focus on communication. |
| "We encourage the client to say whether it is an emotional issue which triggers the disorder, and try and help both sides understand the trauma and conflict they are experiencing and their specific needs." | "We encourage the client to say whether it is an emotional issue which triggers the disorder, and try and help both sides understand the trauma and conflict they are experiencing and their specific needs." |
| Christine says she sometimes feels stuck in the middle, trying to ensure that Emma eats and trying to stop Grant from overeating. | Christine says she sometimes feels stuck in the middle, trying to ensure that Emma eats and trying to stop Grant from overeating. |
| Family therapy gives her a chance to talk about her feelings. | Family therapy gives her a chance to talk about her feelings. |
| "You do it because you love them - but you don't realise that it's hard for you because you've got to do it for them," she says. | "You do it because you love them - but you don't realise that it's hard for you because you've got to do it for them," she says. |
| Working closely with their individual therapists has helped Emma and Grant begin to find new ways to deal with their issues of self-worth and distorted body image. | Working closely with their individual therapists has helped Emma and Grant begin to find new ways to deal with their issues of self-worth and distorted body image. |
| That has enabled both to move forward and change the negative and destructive patterns of behaviour caused by their eating disorders. | That has enabled both to move forward and change the negative and destructive patterns of behaviour caused by their eating disorders. |
| Born Survivors: My 22 Stone Dad and Skinny Me will be broadcast on BBC3 at 2230 GMT on Monday, 19 January. | Born Survivors: My 22 Stone Dad and Skinny Me will be broadcast on BBC3 at 2230 GMT on Monday, 19 January. |