South Yorkshire eating disorder sufferer discusses her journey into recovery
26-year-old Jess Hempshall travelled to Hull a couple of years ago for treatment
New academic research suggests there's been a 'worrying rise' in the number of teenage girls with eating disorders or self-harming since the pandemic.
The study's looked at over 9 million GP records and found the number of 13-16-year-old girls self harming is a third higher than previously expected too.
Those with eating disorders is also over 40% more than predicted before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jess Hempshall from Wath-Upon-Dearne first developed her eating disorder as a teenager:
"Eating disorders thrive on isolation, and of course everyone has been stuck indoors away from family and friends.
"So, obviously going back into the big wide world again is a scary prospect for anyone with an eating disorder, because you do want to keep it to yourself.
"My advice would be for anybody who is suffering is to make sure that you don't struggle with it alone.
"Try and tell someone, whether it's a friend or a family member, or anybody that you feel comfortable telling. That's the only way things start to get better.
"At first, I was in denial. I just thought it was my new life and the way things should be from here on in.
"It was only a few months down the line that I started to accept and acknowledge that I did need some help.
"I still have ups and downs - good days and bad days - and I suppose it depends on what else is happening in life because stress is a big factor that can make the eating disorder voice louder again.
"But, right now, I feel like things are really positive."
26-year-old Jess has been in recovery for two years since she got treatment up at the Hull-based charity Seed.