Eating disorder 'stole my spark and personality'
Hattie Whitman, a 22-year-old from Guernsey, is documenting her recovery from anorexia on social media to build community and accountability. She credits online support networks with helping her regain a sense of purpose during her recovery journey.
Why it matters
It highlights the dual role of social media as both a potential trigger for eating disorders and a powerful tool for peer-led mental health support.
Hattie Whitman said her anorexia got worse when she left Guernsey to go to university [BBC] Hattie Whitman hit rock bottom when her eating disorder began ruining her daily life and she realised she needed help.
"Anorexia is such a misunderstood mental illness. I had no idea when I was struggling that I was struggling," she said.
The 22-year-old from Guernsey began documenting her recovery from anorexia on social media in 2024 to "hold myself accountable" and now has more than 70k followers on Instagram and 145k on TikTok.
She described sharing her journey as a "privilege" and said she hoped to encourage more awareness of eating disorders.
Whitman said when she left Guernsey to go to university in the UK the environmental change was "like the last straw".
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