A CIVIL servant has told how taunts about his weight drove him to slash his body with razors, binge on food and use up to 40 laxatives a day.
The 40-year-old man, who just wanted to be known as "Anthony" developed bulimia and started self-harming after being diagnosed with clinical depression 20 months ago.
At Christmas, a woman made a rude comment about his weight at a work party and he attacked his body with razors.
He said: "People don't think about the impact or the consequences when they say things to you. To them, it's a throwaway remark.
"But it triggered something in me and within half an hour, I was in my hotel room with a razor.
"If I had managed to get the razor out, I would have done some serious damage but, instead, I've got some pretty nasty marks on my stomach."
Anthony, who weighs 21st, was first diagnosed with clinical depression in 2012 after being tormented by suicidal thoughts.
Despite being put on anti-depressants by his GP, he started cutting himself with razors.
"I don't like myself very much," he said. "I've always been a big lad and I've tried every diet under the sun but nothing ever works. Years of name-calling have just taken their toll."
His GP referred him for psychological counselling and he has managed to stop self-harming.
The counsellor realised Anthony was also suffering from bulimia, an illness that has affected former Hull MP Lord Prescott and actor and comedian Russell Brand.
Anthony said: "He said he thought I had bulimia. I'd never even heard of it."
Living in an East Riding town, he has no access to the Hull-based eating disorders service Evolve, which is paid to provide treatment only for patients with a Hull GP.
East Riding Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) does not pay for specialist services and patients have to be referred through mental health services provided by Humber Foundation Trust.
Despite being referred to a specialist based in Beverley, he is still waiting for his first appointment, four months on.
"The help just isn't there for me," he said. "My GP is brilliant and I see a counsellor, but the appointment to see the specialist just never comes.
"I'm not the only person in the East Riding with an eating disorder. But there's nothing to help us."
Without the support of a specialist, he takes comfort in food when depression overwhelms him.
"When you sit down and have a meal, people get that full, contented feeling," he said. "I don't get that when I'm bingeing. There is always this compulsion to keep on going.
"I had a bad day this week and I started with scrambled eggs on toast but I didn't stop. I ate whatever was in the cupboard.
"I've been known to eat a whole pineapple, a bag of oranges, then a steak, a whole pack of crisps and bags of treats, at the one time."
Overwhelmed by shame after a binge, he turns to laxatives in an attempt to purge his body – taking between 20 and 40 a day – as well as downing bottles of liquid laxatives. The normal dose for constipation is one to two laxatives a day.
In desperation, Anthony has turned to Hull eating disorders charity Seed for help and support and now attends their weekly session A Road Less Travelled, where he can share his experience with other sufferers.Sufferers forced to wait for treatment
PEOPLE with eating disorders are having to wait for treatment because of an increase in the number of referrals.
A spokesman for Humber NHS Foundation Trust said: "A rise in the numbers being referred for help with eating disorders means people are having to wait to be seen. The trust is working hard to manage the current situation, including training more dieticians to specialise in eating disorders, devel-oping a triage and priority system and providing more capacity."
People can contact the trust's Patient Advice and Liaison Team by emailing pals@humber.nhs.uk or by calling 01482 303966 if they have concerns over their treatment.
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