MP's Anorexia Battle: Disabled Women's Hidden Struggles

Labour MP Marie Tidball has opened up about her four-year struggle with anorexia, which emerged when she was 14, following the amputation of her leg. She described how the illness provided a sense of control over her physical form, stating, "My frustration about my physical form turned into obsession." Tidball's experience underscores the profound connection between body image, identity, and eating disorders, particularly for disabled women.

Her recovery was spurred by a desire to become a mother, signaling a future and restoring a sense of choice. While physical health improved by university, achieving a healthy relationship with food took until her mid-twenties. Tidball emphasized that societal taboos surrounding sex, relationships, and disability mean many disabled women continue to suffer in silence, damaging their mental health and self-esteem.