Big Brother’s Nikki Grahame is battling anorexia again as pals say her ‘last hope’ is raising £25k for specialist clinic
NIKKI Grahame is battling anorexia and her condition has "worsened" in recent months.
The 38-year-old star is in a "very bad way" and her Big Brother pal Rylan Clark-Neal has tweeted his fans asking for help to raise £25,000 to get her treatment in a specialist clinic.
Rylan tweeted: "This is v hard to read but sharing with permission.
"If some of the family could help in any way I know it would be greatly appreciated. Sending love x"
Nikki's representative told The Sun: “It is with sadness that we can confirm Nikki’s battle with anorexia has worsened in recent months and those closest to her are doing everything they can to assist with her recuperation, most notably in the form of a go fund me page.
"We are confident Nikki will be able to make a full recovery and she would personally like to thank everyone for their kind words, wishes and donations today and beyond.”
Helplines on eating disorders and body image
For help and support on eating disorders and body image, you can call Beat Eating Disorders.
Their adult helpline is 0808 201 1677. The youth helpline is on 0808 801 0711
Signs and symptoms of anorexia
- if you're under 18, your weight and height being lower than expected for your age
- if you're an adult, having an unusually low body mass index
- missing meals, eating very little or avoiding eating any foods you see as fattening
- believing you are fat when you are a healthy weight or underweight
- taking medication to reduce your hunger (appetite suppressants)
- your periods stopping (in women who have not reached menopause) or not starting (in younger women and girls)
- physical problems, such as feeling dizzy, dry skin and hair loss
Nikki's friends are desperately trying to raise cash as they believe a specialist clinic is her "last hope".
"As some of you may know, Nikki is battling Anorexia," her friends Carly and Leon wrote on her page.
"She has been battling for most of her life and as you can see, Nikki is now in a very bad way so we need to do something quickly.
"Over the past years Nikki's family and friends have tried so desperately to get Nikki all the help possible through the NHS but unfortunately the treatments have failed and we have exhausted every avenue possible, and now Nik is unfortunately in a very bad way, this is now our last hope."
Nikki's friends are now "praying" private specialist treatment would give her "the chance of kicking this illness to the curb once and for all".
"At the moment, Nikki constantly feels weak and is struggling on a day to day basis," they wrote.
"She feels trapped and really wants to get better but feels like it’s impossible.
"It’s heart-breaking and we desperately just want a healthy and well Nikki back with us.
"She has no energy and is taking each day as it comes."
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Nikki's friends are planning to walk the bridges in London in May to raise money.
As a youngster Nikki developed anorexia and was admitted to psychiatric hospitals after a suicide bid aged 12.
At one point she had to be force fed through a nasal tube after she starved herself.
- You can donate to Nikki's appeal on her page.