‘I would skip lunch at school and lie about it’
Jessica Walford hears the inspiring story of one young woman’s battle with anorexia – and how she’s now marking her victory over the deadly eating disorder by running the Cardiff Half Marathon
THREE years ago, 19-yearold Carys Scruton couldn’t take part in PE lessons at school because she suffered from anorexia.
Carys, from Pontardawe, was starting her GCSEs at Bryn Tawe School in Swansea when exam stress and peer pressure took its toll.
Not long after, she spiralled into a world of cutting down her food intake as a form of control.
“I remember thinking I always had to plan,” Carys said.
“I had to have everything done right. At that age, everyone is looking at each other more. I had to control everything and try to make my life more perfect.
“That and the stress of exams and you just don’t realise. I started to think, ‘I love this, I’m losing weight and people are complimenting me’.”
At her lowest point, she would skip meals entirely and lie to friends and family who noticed she wasn’t eating.
She said: “I would wake up and have my calorie counter and plan the day, what I was going to eat. I would have 500 to 1,000 calories if I was being kind to myself.
“You couldn’t blame my parents. I would do things like chop my apples big.
“I would then go to school and skip lunch if I could. I’d say I’d already had it if friends asked.
“I’d do little things like I’d have to do 100 sit-ups every night.
“I would be absolutely shattered after going out for long walks, but I’d have to make myself do them before bed.”
Carys finally reached breaking point and, with the help of her sister Elinor, managed to get diagnosed by a doctor.
“I was feeling really low and was wondering why I was feeeling like this,” Carys said.
“I went on a walk with my sister and I was saying, ‘I’m not right, I’m physically and mentally not well, I’m struggling all the time’.
“I was angry at everything. I was a shell of myself.”
But even after she was diagnosed, Carys wasn’t allowed to do the one thing she loved at school – running.
“I wasn’t allowed to do any exercise.
“It was really hard to see everyone enjoying sport and I was just seeing it as a military drill. I had to sit on the sidelines.
“I wasn’t even allowed to walk up the stairs in case I burnt calories.”
A few years later, though, Carys took up running again. Now she and her sister Elinor are planning on running the Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday for Beat, a charity that helps people with eating disorders, after they helped her through one of her toughest times.
Carys used the charity’s helplines to discuss her feelings when she didn’t feel ready to speak to family during her recovery.
At least 1.25 million men and women of all ages and backgrounds are affected by an eating disorder in the UK.
Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, but charities like Beat offer services like helplines, message boards and online services, which can be invaluable for sufferers in their time of need.
Carys said: “When I was recovering, I was doing my Duke of Edinburgh Award.
“I’d done all the hours, all the volunteering, but they sad I couldn’t do the trek up the Gower. Before it spiralled I used to go for walks all the time.
“It was nice to feel all my hard work is paying off and I can run again. “It’s such an achievement.” Elinor, 21, said: “We were fortunate that Carys overcame her anorexia and is now able to take part in this incredible event.
“However, for many eating disorder sufferers, this is not the case.
“Unfortunately, we still live in a society where eating disorders and other mental health disorders are not given the same status as physical conditions, and this really needs to change.
“Three and a half years ago, Carys wasn’t even allowed to attend PE lessons at school, so completing the half marathon alongside her will mean the world to me.”
Beat’s community fundraising officer Andrea Auburn said: “Carys and Elinor have worked hard to fundraise for Beat’s helpline services, which helped them during Carys’ recovery from anorexia.
“Their support will help more people than ever to access free help and information via Beat’s helplines, online support groups and message boards.”
To sponsor Carys and Elinor, visit their online fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/carysscruton