A PERSONAL trainer who battled anorexia throughout her teenage years has turned her hand to helping teenagers and their families recover from and handle eating disorders.

Emma Carpenter, 29, says the bullying she experienced as a child contributed to an eating disorder so severe it almost claimed her life.

After years of battling anorexia with the support of her family and support workers, Miss Carpenter has made it her mission to help those who are encountering the same problems.

She hopes to steer young people away from the pitfalls which saw her hospitalised several times throughout her teenage years.

Miss Carpenter, who attended Gosbecks Primary School and Philip Morant School, set up her business Muscle Mind Wellness which helps young people in Colchester.

Despite having previously worked in a school environment, Miss Carpenter said her true passion was helping people who can’t help themselves – those whose are at risk of losing control of their lives because of eating disorders.

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She said: “The best feeling is seeing that person at their lowest and showing them that they are worth it.

“They do all the hard work – I just give them all the tools to go and do it.”

Set up in September 2020, Miss Carpenter also has a training studio designed for people who lack the confidence to go into public gyms by themselves.

She said: “The personal training sessions are designed for people with body dysmorphia and don’t feel comfortable going into the gym environment.

“I work with people who are at their lowest and have nowhere to turn to – they’re in a situation where it’s not working for them because they are like I was.”

Although Miss Carpenter has the qualifications as a personal trainer and nutritionist, she says the main skill she has is putting that experience into use.

She is also campaigning for former sufferers to help combat eating disorders at source, rather than dealing with the effects.

Most recently, she has been in contact with minister of state for care at the department of health and social care Gillian Keegan to help move the plans forward.