A YOUNG woman who has spent years battling against multiple eating disorders met with Waveney MP Bob Blizzard last week as a charity launched its appeal for more Government support.

A YOUNG woman who has spent years battling against multiple eating disorders met with Waveney MP Bob Blizzard last week as a charity launched its appeal for more Government support.

Becky Edmunds, 20, of Oulton Broad, has suffered anorexia and ED-NOS (an eating disorder not otherwise specified), and now the former Benjamin Britten High School student has become an ambassador for the leading UK charity beat.

Last Friday she met with Mr Blizzard, together with beat project officer Amira Mohamed-Raouf, as she explained her story to him and outlined the work the charity is doing to challenge the Government to improve treatment, understanding and support for people affected by eating disorders.

Speaking to Mr Blizzard, Becky told him how at the height of her disorder she had pushed friends away and become extremely isolated, as she became obsessed with her eating habits.

'I literally stayed in the house, didn't speak, didn't go out. I was completely obsessed on food and restricted my diet on a daily basis,' she said.

Becky was diagnosed in 2006, but believes the disorders date back to 2004. She was supported by her parents and younger sister, but turned to beat for outside help.

Through the Norwich-based charity she was able to speak to people about her problems, as well as speak to other young people in similar situations.

Becky is now an ambassador for the charity, but as part of her role she will never talk about her exact food and weight issues.

'I was quite competitive. If I read about someone with a lower BMI (body mass index), I'd think I don't deserve help, I'm not bad enough,' she said.

It is estimated that 1.6 million people across the UK suffer from an eating disorder. Beat's manifesto asks for the government to record how many people in the UK have a diagnosed eating disorder, improve primary care, make specialist services available to all, provide evidence based treatment and improve education to prevent the disorders.

After hearing her story, Mr Blizzard assured Becky that he would take the issue forward.

'I will write to the health ministers and recount this to them, urging them to do more,' he said.

Becky is still recovering from her eating disorders but is hoping to go back into education this September.

'I have hope and a desire to move forward. I have a future now, whereas perhaps a couple of years ago I didn't,' she said.

For information about beat visit www.b-eat.co.uk email help@b-eat.co.uk or call 0845 634 1414.