Steph Blackwell has opened up about suffering from an eating disorder in her teenage years, admitting she used it to have "control" over her life.
The Great British Bake Off finalist, 28, was struggling to decide what she wanted to do with her life at the age of 17 and her disordered eating began.
Speaking on ITV's Lorraine on Thursday, Steph said she suffered from both anorexia and binge eating, which she called her "safety net".
She explained: "I'd use food as a bit of a scaffold. I really controlled my life with food and things that I could do quite easily.
"When everything else felt completely out of control I used that as a way of dealing with things.
"It was a safety net."
Steph admitted that she "felt like a freak" when she was suffering in silence.
Her granddad was the first to notice something wasn't right and when the family went on holiday together the rest of her relatives realised something had to be done.
The condition would have long term effects on her health and she was diagnosed with early-stage bone thinning disease osteoporosis, aged just 21
Her levels of oestrogen are also low.
When she decided to sign up to Bake Off she wanted to use her new fame to raise awareness.
Steph added: "I didn't go on Bake Off to be the next celebrity but having been given the platform I've been given I've been so desperate to help other people put there.
"If I can help one person then..."
If you're struggling with an eating disorder, Beat can help. Call the helpline on 0808 801 0677 or visit the website for more information
