Dear Anita,

Thanks very much for your reply, I really appreciate it.

I think I’ve been bingeing on and off for about 3 and a half years, more or less since I came back to university. I think it has become a coping mechanism for when I get stressed or upset – if I have a panic attack I’ll order a large pizza and sides, enough for two people, probably around 4000 calories or just over, and hide the boxes from my housemate. I tend to rationalise that it’s only the one time and I’ll make up for it the next day with a run or picking up the VLCD again (sometimes I do, but it only lasts a day). Afterwords I’ll feel guilty and a failure – that I can’t control any aspect of my life even if I know I’m putting my health at risk. In more recent weeks I’ve ended up bingeing almost every day. This is probably the worst it’s been.

Sorry it’s a bit blunt – it took me ages to write! Thanks again for offering to help.

Best wishes

Hannah