The shocking story of a young woman who overcame her food phobia and delivered an encouraging message

Megan BrewerAged 25, she dreamed of becoming a dancer and touring the world with a professional company before her health deteriorated and she practiced up to 10 hours a day.

Megan’s anorexia made her so sick that she relied on up to nine cups of coffee and caffeine tablets just to stay upright. Since she was eight years old, Megan had obsessed over measurements for school dance costumes, wanting them to be the smallest size possible.

Growing up, she was always calorie conscious and often cried in front of her reflection. Megan enrolled in dance school at 18, but by her third year she was practicing up to 10 hours a day, going to the gym at least once a day, taking two yoga classes, another more intense class, running once a week and training for a marathon, all on top of dancing.

“We, as a family, have always been very busy with our commitments, such as dance and music lessons. Both of my parents are very dedicated to exercise and healthy living, what I learned and took to the extreme. I remember being picky about unhealthy foods since I was little, like not eating french fries or pizza. “I would say I don’t like them, so I shouldn’t eat them.”

Her family was not very aware of the situation, although when her physical deterioration began to be noticed, Megan tried to hide it. One day her father saw his daughter’s skeletal body and began to cry.. From there, in 2018, the young woman began treatment for anorexia. And he managed to recover.

He always lived in a family of athletes, so taking care of his body was normal. Since I was little I did a lot of exercises and ate healthy. She remembers that at the age of eight, still a child, she began to be obsessed with her measurements.

As he grew up, the situation became more compulsive. He looked at the calories of everything he ate and often looked in the mirror. If she didn’t like the image she reflected of herself, she would cry.

His turning point came the day he realized he had developed food phobia. “My parents are very interested in exercise and a healthy lifestyle, which is something I learned and took to the extreme.”

Megan, now recovered, wants to show it to the other young people how difficult it is to fight anorexia. And he says that more should be done so that many people do not fall into the disease. She underwent family-supported treatment which consisted of admission to an institution.

“At first I was an outpatient, but it didn’t work out, so I stayed in the clinic all week. We had meals and various therapy groups, I could go home on weekends,” Megan said.

She was assisted by nurses, a nutritionist, occupational therapists and an entire specialized team. “Eating disorders are not about weight. People need to educate themselves so they can support others. It’s a mindset and food and weight are just a symptom of how controlled you are by your inner voices,” she analyzes today.

What is anorexia

It is an eating disorder that causes people to lose more weight than is considered healthy for their age and height.

People with this disorder may have an intense fear of gaining weight, even when they are underweight. They may diet or exercise excessively or use other methods to lose weight.

The exact causes of anorexia are not known. There are probably many factors involved. Genes and hormones may play a role. Social attitudes that promote very thin body types may also contribute.

Anorexia often begins during the pre-teen or adolescent yearsor early adulthood and is more common in women, although it can also be seen in men.