Parents are proud as Becky beats her demons

Becky with her parents Andrew and Linda

AN inspirational 16-year-old girl has beaten bullies and overcome an eating disorder which dropped her weight to under six stone.

Now happy and healthy, Becky Mearns has fulfilled two of her goals — to travel to New Zealand to visit members of her family, and to helpto raise money for the people who helped her.

Becky, from Heyside, was 12 when diagnosed with eating disorder anorexia nervosa after being bullied at school.

Her weight dropped to a skeletal 5st 9lb before she was helped to turn her health around.

Becky, who also has Aspergers Syndrome - a form of autism - said: “I started being bullied at secondary school because they thought I was different. It was very psychological; lots of name calling, but they also used to throw things at me.

“My confidence was rock bottom. I became increasingly concerned about my body so I stopped eating.

“It was awful — I wanted to eat, but at the same time I didn’t want to. I was sad all the time.”

As her weight dropped drastically, her parents Linda and Andy became increasingly concerned.

Linda said: “We were devastated, it was our worst fears realised. We put our lives on hold to make sure Becky got the help she needed.”

Every day Becky was set an eating goal to help her recover. She changed school to Newman College to get away from the bullies and was given additional support.

Linda added: “When she had gained a pound at her weekly weigh-ins, it felt like we had won the FA Cup.

“It all changed around the 7st mark, when Becky realised she would soon be well enough to go on a dream holiday. It spurred her on.”

Now a fit and healthy teenager, becky is on an apprenticeship course.

“Even 18 months ago I couldn’t have imagined how much Becky would improve,” said her mother.

“Getting the help she needed saved her life.”