Former journalist from Brisbane discusses her crippling anorexia

When Lucinda Kent was 22, anorexia gradually took control of her life.

After starting her first full time job in journalism, the Brisbane native became obsessed with being as thin as possible and dropped to a mere 45 kilograms.

She now wants other young women battling eating disorders and body dysmorphia to value and respect their bodies, and hopes her story will encourage people to speak openly about personal struggles with anorexia. 

Ms Kent spoke to FEMAIL about her difficult journey to regaining  health, body positivity and a new passion for helping others.

When Lucinda Kent was 22, anorexia gradually took control of her life (pictured in a changing room during the worst period of her anorexia)

‘I went to an all girls boarding school where eating disorders were an ever present issue, but it wasn’t until I finished my undergraduate degree and started work that issues with food cropped up for me,’ the former journalist said.

Ms Kent had just started working full time when she lost a noticeable amount of weight ‘just from being busier’.

‘I had a lot of positive reinforcement regarding my weight loss with people telling me I looked great.

‘I started consciously working out regularly, got myself a personal trainer and actively tried to lose weight,’ she said.

Ms Kent to pushed herself to eat less and less until her hair stopped growing and her breasts disappeared

Ms Kent to pushed herself to eat less and less until her hair stopped growing and her breasts disappeared

In the space of six months, Ms Kent went from being a healthy size eight and relatively unaware of her weight to striving for the tiniest frame possible and keeping constant watch on the scales.

‘At my sickest I weighed about 45 kilograms. I’m usually around 5’5 and during this time I think I dropped about 15 to 20 kilos in all.

‘I was physically and mentally exhausted as well as picking up colds repeatedly. I was trying to convince myself that I was just prone to being under the weather, but looking back I think deep down I knew there was something more sinister going on.’

The talented media professional dropped to a shocking 45 kilograms because of her obsessive calorie counting and exhaustive exercise

The talented media professional dropped to a shocking 45 kilograms because of her obsessive calorie counting and exhaustive exercise

At her smallest, Ms Kent said she was offered modelling work, an opportunity which disgusts her in hindsight because of how unwell she actually was.

‘Thin privilege is a real thing,’ she said.

‘My parents, sister and some older women asked if I was unwell around this time but others thought I looked great and this validation was what fuelled my obsession with being the tiniest I could be.’

Looking back on pictures of herself, Ms Kent said she genuinely believed she looked great at the time. Now, she can see how dangerously thin she had become.

‘My hair literally stopped growing. I remember going on a date one night when I was at my worst, and I want to kick that guy now for not saying get out of here, you’re not okay!’ She said. 

Stunning Ms Kent in a recent Instagram picture after her long road of recovery from anorexia

Stunning Ms Kent in a recent Instagram picture after her long road of recovery from anorexia

Ms Kent remembers thinking she could always control her weight loss, and believed she would never let it go too far. 

‘I think you fall in love with the disease. 

‘It might be cliched but I once heard Dr Phil say that anorexics want to be left alone with their disease, and I really resonate with that interpretation – it’s exactly how I felt.’

It wasn’t until she went for a check up with her gynaecologist that she got the wake up call she needed. 

‘She sat me down and said Lucinda, you’ve lost your breasts, and if you don’t address your weight right away you are going to be left with serious fertility problems down the line,’ Ms Kent said.

The prospect of being unable to have children was the impetus the young journalist needed to confront her anorexia head on.

‘It took three or four months but I started going to therapy with a counsellor.

‘It took about a year for me to fully get back to a healthy weight.’

Although she still has 'bad days' with food and eating habits, Ms Kent (pictured in recent times) said she is so much healthier and content in herself since overcoming her struggles with anorexia

Although she still has ‘bad days’ with food and eating habits, Ms Kent (pictured in recent times) said she is so much healthier and content in herself since overcoming her struggles with anorexia

Even now, Ms Kent admits she still has some negative thoughts about food.

‘Even today, guilt is very much there for me with regards to eating – I still know the calories of products off the top of my head, but the difference now is I can identify this as toxic behaviour and I’m able to rein it in. It doesn’t control me anymore.’

The 25-year-old said social media, particularly Instagram, continues to be a challenging area for her. 

‘Scrolling past these unattainable, unrealistic pictures of models can be tough, and there’s no doubt I still have bad days,’ she said. 

‘But I am so much healthier and happier now than I was three years ago, and most importantly I haven’t had any relapses which I’m told is unusual.’

Healthy and happy: Today, the media law masters student respects her body and values it as a precious commodity 

Healthy and happy: Today, the media law masters student respects her body and values it as a precious commodity 

Now studying a masters in media law at home in Brisbane, Ms Kent said she regularly approaches worryingly thin girls on the street to ask ‘are you okay’ and to say ‘I was there too’.

Asked what advice she gives to anyone suffering with anorexia today, Ms Kent said it’s important to remember you don’t get well until you want to be well.

‘Your body is a precious thing and you are robbing yourself of a full life just to be thin. It’s not worth it.

‘If people only see your worth in how small you are, you don’t need them in your life.’

If you need help or support for an eating disorder or body image issue, please call Butterfly’s National Helpline on 1800 334 673 or e-mail support@thebutterflyfoundation.org.au



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk