Gemma Oaten breaks down as she recalls 13-year anorexia battle

Emmerdale’s Gemma Oaten broke down in tears while appearing live on Friday’s BBC Breakfast as she candidly discussed her 13-year battle with anorexia. 

The actress, 38, who starred as Rachel Breckle on Emmerdale from 2011 to 2015, has openly detailed her battles with the eating disorder, and previously revealed she ended up in a psychiatric unit when she was just 11-years-old.

During a clip played on the show, Gemma wiped her tears away and was heard saying: ‘My eating disorder developed around the age of nine.’

‘My mum and dad set up SEED 22 years ago, and I genuinely believe that through doing that, they helped bring me back and saved my life too.’

Gemma’s charity, SEED, which was set up by her parents after her own battle, will open two new therapy rooms in Hull on Friday – with one being named after Big Brother legend Nikki Grahame.

Nikki died aged 38 – just one month after her friends started a GoFundMe page to fund treatment for her eating disorder. 

The second room is named after 17-year-old Chelsea Blue. 

During a clip played on the show, Gemma wiped her tears away and was heard saying: ‘My eating disorder developed around the age of nine.’

Opening up: Gemma then appeared on the red sofa to speak about her work with Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty

The voluntary organisation – run by a group of ordinary people with firsthand experience of eating disorders – was formed in September 2000 and became a registered charity in 2004.

Gemma then appeared on the red sofa to speak about her work with Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty.

The campaigner told them: ‘We’ve done a lot of hugging over the last few days.

‘A lot of hugging, a lot of crying, it is quite an emotional thing, we’ve not seen that before either.’

Anorexia is a serious mental illness where a person restricts their food intake, which often causes them to be severely underweight. 

The hosts revealed nearly 30,000 people were hospitalised last year for conditions associated with eating disorders.

Gemma first formed a complicated relationship with food at the age of ten before being diagnosed with an eating disorder just two years later.

And she has been battling numerous health issues since as a direct result of her anorexia.

She previously said: ‘There is nothing glamorous about this devastating mental health illness, and there must be more done to help support those who desperately need help before it’s too late. 

In April, Gemma nearly died as she was diagnosed with milk-alkali syndrome after being rushed to hospital with kidney ‘distress’. 

Gemma’s condition – Milk-alkali Syndrome – can be caused by the excessive intake of calcium or the supplement calcium carbonate, which causes heightened levels in the patient’s blood, making its balance become more alkaline 

Gemma is now dedicated to helping and supporting those battling eating disorders and is the Charity Manager and patron of SEED.

For help and support with eating disorders contact SEED on (01482) 718130 or visit www.seedeatingdisorders.org.uk

The campaigner said: ‘My mum and dad set up SEED 22 years ago, and I genuinely believe that through doing that, they helped bring me back and saved my life too.’