The sister of slain Feilding farmer Scott Guy and estranged wife of the man acquitted of his murder has been praised for her courage in talking about an illness that affects thousands of New Zealanders but is usually hidden from the public eye.
But her interview in the latest Woman's Day has highlighted the lack of government-funded aid for people struggling with eating disorders.
Ms Guy, 32, said her bulimia was triggered when she was 15 after two boys teased her about their fifth-form class photo and said she was "the fattest in the class". Before this, she had never worried about her weight and enjoyed lasagne squares at the school cafeteria and big family lunches at home on the farm.
"But I was now conscious of my body. So somehow I came up with an idea to throw up food after meals, feeling like I was getting rid of any extra fat I didn't want," she told Woman's Day.
It started off being once a week, but she was soon throwing up sometimes twice a day. Her grades started dropping and the previously confident and bubbly schoolgirl became withdrawn and distanced herself from her friends.
The illness took over her body - her hair fell out, she broke out in pimples, and a dentist told her if she didn't stop, all her teeth would fall out. She once had to get 19 fillings.
Ms Guy is investigating eating disorders for a story for TV3's 3rd Degree.
Women's Health Action Trust director Julie Radford-Poupard applauded her for openly discussing her battle with bulimia.
"People don't realise that poor body image can also lead to higher rates of depression, increased rates of bullying and reduced physical activity, poor sexual health. It's much wider than people think it is."
However, there is no helpline for people battling eating disorders to call after the Eating Difficulties Education Network (EDEN) closed late last year due to funding cuts.
"It's heartbreaking - a real shame," Ms Radford-Poupard said.
- Amelia Wade, NZ Herald
