Big Brother star Nikki Grahame’s mother has appeared on This Morning to discuss her daughter’s ongoing anorexia disorder.
Earlier this month, friends of the TV personality started a GoFundMe to raise money for her treatment for the eating disorder, which she has struggled with since she was a child (Warning: fundraising link contains images that some readers may find extremely triggering or distressing).
Explaining that treatment on the NHS had failed, her friends said that Grahame, who was first diagnosed with the eating disorder when she was eight years old, was looking to be treated at a specialist clinic to “give her the chance of kicking this illness to the curb once and for all”.
Appearing on the ITV talk show on Tuesday (30 March), Nikki’s mother Susan Grahame said that her daughter’s condition had been exacerbated by the coronavirus lockdown.
“I think last year really put the cap on it with Covid,” she told presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
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“It sounds crazy, but even stuff like gyms closing... was quite a worry… and the isolation, because obviously she couldn’t see anybody.”
Susan continued: “I asked her if she would come and stay with me but she said she needs to be in her home… She felt very cut off and [was] spending too much time on her own with not enough to think about other than food.”
Susan said that she’d first noticed Nikki “refusing to eat” during a family meal on Mother’s Day when her daughter was seven years old.
Nikki has now entered a treatment facility in hope of treating her eating disorder.
For anyone struggling with the issues raised in this piece, eating disorder charity Beat’s helpline is available 365 days a year on 0808 801 0677.
NCFED offers information, resources and counselling for those suffering from eating disorders, as well as their support networks. Visit eating-disorders.org.uk or call 0845 838 2040.
