Profiles

Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.



Interview 41

Since diagnosis and until she was sixteen years old she was on a two daily injections of insulin. Until her early teens she had well controlled diabetes, but then it began to slip. She found her insulin regimen oppressive and limiting so when it was changed to short-acting and long acting analogue insulin she had a sense of freedom that she has never experienced before in relation to food and mealtimes. The problem was that around the same time she started to be concerned about her weight and de

  • Background

    Shares a house with a friend. Her advice to other young people who are not doing their insulin injections is to find the courage and to seek help as soon...

  • Age at interview 27
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Interview 40

    She has lived with diabetes most of her life and has been on different insulin types such as NovoRapid and Insulatard. When she was on two insulin injections a day she had a fixed mealtime routine and had to have snacks in between meals. She stopped having her snacks because she thought she was eating too much. She started misusing insulin and developed and eating disorder.

  • Background

    University student; has a boyfriend; living in shared student accommodation with three other friends.

  • Age at interview 20
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Anna

    Anna has had difficulties with food since she was about 9. She has gone through stages of restricting, binging and purging and then overeating. It has been an isolating experience and made her feel vulnerable around food.

  • Background

    Anna is 25. She is a sculptor and a student. She has just moved back to live with her parents to save money whilst studying. White British.

  • Age at interview 25
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Nico

    Nico has experienced depression and problems with eating and body image for a couple of years. He is doing a lot of voluntary work to improve the care and lives of other young people.

  • Background

    Nico is 17 and at college. He is in a relationship and lives at home with his parents. White British.

  • Age at interview 17
  • Sex/Gender Male

    • Roberto

    During his studies in the United States, Roberto became obsessed with exercise and eating. He had a few counselling sessions but mainly through his own commitment he is now overcoming the issues and is determined to be back to the person he used to be.

  • Background

    Roberto is an exchange student from South America. He is 20 and lives in halls of residence.

  • Age at interview 20
  • Sex/Gender Male

    • Suzanne

    Suzanne started being sick involuntarily after eating when she was 14 and was later diagnosed with EDNOS (eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified). She has seen a GP and school counsellor but would prefer to see someone specialised in eating disorders.

  • Background

    Suzanne is 16 and a student.

  • Age at interview 16
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Nikki

    Nikki has experienced bulimia, self-harm and depression since secondary school. Inpatient care, therapy and volunteering to use her experiences to help others have all helped her towards recovery and to letting herself enjoy life a bit more.

  • Background

    Nikki is 20 and a third year university student. She is single and lives on her own. British Asian.

  • Age at interview 20
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • David

    David has experienced bulimia for the past eight years. He has learnt to manage his eating and bingeing and purging is no longer a habit. He feels seeking help for men with eating disorders should be made easier; with more specific information available for them.

  • Background

    David is 22 and works as personnel coordinator. He is single and lives with his parents.

  • Age at interview 22
  • Sex/Gender Male

    • Emily

    Emily has experienced bulimia since she was 11 and she was diagnosed with depression in her late teens. With the help of her GP and antidepressants she has learnt to deal with negative thoughts around eating, food and body image and is now recovering.

  • Background

    Emily is 21 and a University student. She is single and lives in halls of residence. White British.

  • Age at interview 21
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Elene

    Elene's earliest memories of making herself sick are from the age 8 and she was diagnosed with bulimia nervosa at 15. Through working her negative thinking in counselling and the responsibility of a university course, Elene turned things around for herself.

  • Background

    Elene is a final year university student. She is single and lives in shared student accommodation. White British.

  • Age at interview 20
  • Sex/Gender Female