A recovering anorexic has told how she ‘fought for her life and got it back’ following a harrowing five-year ordeal that saw her weight plummet to just 90 lbs (6 stone 6 lbs).
Kat deBettencourt, 22, from Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, began struggling with disordered eating at the age of 14 and became so unwell she didn’t have a period for five years.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline FEMAIL, she recalled: ‘It came on gradually. There wasn’t one specific trigger for me. There was a lot that contributed to my eating disorder.
‘Some of theses include OCD, feeling pressure from everyone around me to be perfect and successful in every way, family dynamics, bad relationships, and anxiety.’
Kat deBettencourt (pictured left, before and right, today) exercised for at least three hours a day, waking up early to work out for the entire morning before ‘walking all day until 3.30pm’
The 5ft 9in occupational therapy student dropped from a healthy 145 lbs (10 stone 5 lbs) down to 90 lbs (6 stone 6 lbs) during her junior year of college.
Kat said: ‘I ruined relationships with people I love and care about, was absolutely miserable, lies, was sneaky, and completely consumed by my eating disorder.’
At the height of her illness, she would eat a small meal of low-calorie fruits and vegetables once a day, at 3.30pm, and nothing else.
She followed a ‘rigid schedule’ that saw her exercising for at least three hours a day, waking up early to exercise for the entire morning before ‘walking all day until 3.30pm’.
Unwell: The 5ft 9in occupational therapy student dropped from a healthy 145 lbs (10 stone 5 lbs) down to 90 lbs (6 stone 6 lbs), pictured, during her junior year of college
Recovery: Kat (pictured today at a healthier weight) began struggling with disordered eating at the age of 14 and became so unwell she didn’t have a period for five years
At the height of her illness, Kat would eat a small meal of low-calorie fruits and vegetables once a day, at 3.30pm, and nothing else – but she is now feeling healthier than ever
‘I was miserable,’ Kat continued. ‘My friends and family definitely noticed. My family was devastated and would try to help me but it would turn into huge fights between my parents and me.
‘My friends noticed but I pushed them away. I dug myself into a deep hole of loneliness and pushed all who cared about me away. But at the time I did not realize I was doing this, I was consumed by me eating disorder.
‘My hair and nails were brittle, in fact my hair began to fall out, my body constantly ached, my heart rate was scarily low. My turning point was rock bottom.’
Better than ever: Speaking about her illness, Kat said, ‘I ruined relationships with people I love and care about, was absolutely miserable, lies, was sneaky, and completely consumed by my eating disorder’
Speaking about her lowest point, Kat said: ‘My hair and nails were brittle, in fact my hair began to fall out, my body constantly ached, my heart rate was scarily low. My turning point was rock bottom’
It was only when Kat realised she was upsetting her loved ones by ‘slowing killing herself’ that she decided to seek help.
‘It took me a while to get completely on the recovery wagon, but when I did I just kept moving forward,’ she said.
‘It was scary as hell and by far the hardest thing I have ever done but my god it was worth it.’
Today, Kat describes herself as being in a ‘steady recovery’ and follows a healthy diet, rarely suffering from disordered thoughts.
Turning point: It was only when Kat realised she was upsetting her loved ones by ‘slowing killing herself’ that she decided to seek help
Journey: Today, Kat describes herself as being in a ‘steady recovery’ and follows a healthy diet, rarely suffering from disordered thoughts
‘I don’t know my current weight and I don’t want to know it,’ she added. ‘I am going on how I feel mentally and physically and this is by far the best I have felt in years.
‘I felt so wrong recovering at first, but seeing what others achieved through recovery motivated me and I pushed myself through hell to get there myself.
‘When you are snuggling you think weight gain is the absolute scariest thing ever, but once you get going it gets so much easier.
‘I struggled with anorexia for five years and have finally been in a steady recovery. I am happy again. I fought for my life and got it back.’