'I could be sitting here today with a husband and child': Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten reveals she was hospitalised 21 times from the age of 12 to 19 during life-changing anorexia battle

Gemma Oaten has revealed she was hospitalised 21 times from the age of 12 to 19 during life-changing anorexia battle.

The former Emmerdale star, 39, who played Rachel Breckle from 2011 to 2015, suffered with anorexia for 13 years and previously revealed she ended up in a psychiatric unit when she was just 11-years-old.

In a new interview, Gemma has said the eating disorder has stopped her from having a family.

She told The Times: ‘I was hospitalised 21 times from the age of 12 to 19. If someone had tried to unravel what was wrong at that point, my life might have been different.

‘I could be sitting here today with a husband and a child. I might not have had a heart attack at 18, a bowel prolapse and all my teeth removed after the acid from vomiting destroyed them.

Gemma Oaten has revealed she was hospitalised 21 times from the age of 12 to 19 during life-changing anorexia battle

The former Emmerdale star, 39, who played Rachel Breckle from 2011 to 2015, suffered with anorexia for 13 years and previously revealed she ended up in a psychiatric unit when she was just 11-years-old

Gemma added: ‘I wasn’t able to get better for myself, but in the end I started eating for Mum and Dad.’

Gemma is the CEO of SEED, a charity service that provides support to people with eating disorders.

Last year, she broke down in tears while appearing live on BBC Breakfast as she candidly discussed her 13-year battle with anorexia.

She has openly detailed her battles with the eating disorder, and previously revealed she ended up in a psychiatric unit when she was just 11-years-old.

During a clip played on the show, Gemma wiped her tears away and was heard saying: ‘My eating disorder developed around the age of nine.’

‘My mum and dad set up SEED 22 years ago, and I genuinely believe that through doing that, they helped bring me back and saved my life too.’

The voluntary organisation – run by a group of ordinary people with firsthand experience of eating disorders – was formed in September 2000 and became a registered charity in 2004.

Gemma then appeared on the red sofa to speak about her work with Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty.

The campaigner told them: ‘We’ve done a lot of hugging over the last few days.

‘A lot of hugging, a lot of crying, it is quite an emotional thing, we’ve not seen that before either.’

Anorexia is a serious mental illness where a person restricts their food intake, which often causes them to be severely underweight.

The hosts revealed nearly 30,000 people were hospitalised last year for conditions associated with eating disorders.

Gemma first formed a complicated relationship with food at the age of ten before being diagnosed with an eating disorder just two years later.

And she has been battling numerous health issues since as a direct result of her anorexia.

She previously said: ‘There is nothing glamorous about this devastating mental health illness, and there must be more done to help support those who desperately need help before it’s too late.

Gemma is the CEO of SEED, a charity service that provides support to people with eating disorders

In April, Gemma nearly died as she was diagnosed with milk-alkali syndrome after being rushed to hospital with kidney ‘distress’.

Gemma’s condition – Milk-alkali Syndrome – can be caused by the excessive intake of calcium or the supplement calcium carbonate, which causes heightened levels in the patient’s blood, making its balance become more alkaline

Gemma is now dedicated to helping and supporting those battling eating disorders and is the Charity Manager and patron of SEED.

For help and support with eating disorders contact SEED on (01482) 718130 or visit www.seedeatingdisorders.org.uk