Christine McGuinness reveals she secretly battled an eating disorder from the age of EIGHT

PADDY McGuinness' wife Christine revealed she secretly battled an eating disorder from the age of eight.

The model opened up about her painful past in an emotional interview on Loose Women today.

5

Christine, 29, left Paddy at home with their kids today so she could make an appearance on the hit panel show.

During the chat, she opened up about online trolls who accused her of "promoting anorexia" by sharing pictures of her toned body on social media.

She revealed the claims are incredibly hurtful because she has spent years battling a secret eating disorder.

5

Most Read In TV & Showbiz

WORKING IT OUT

Jac Jossa spotted without wedding ring after denying marriage troubles

STOP RIGHT NOW

Emma Bunton fuels Spice Girls feud rumours & ignores Geri's birthday message

STELLA CAN WAIT

Liam Gallagher makes surprise admission about record-breaking Oasis gigs

STAR SACKED

American singer dropped by record label following series of bitter spats

The beauty admitted she began having problems with food as a child and doctors feared she may never have kids of her own after her period stopped when she was a teenager.

She said: "I was eight or nine[when it started].

"I didn't like eating in front of people... I was fussy... I was skipping meals - that's how it started."

5

Christine was adamant her issues had nothing to do with trying to slim down, but was a more deep-rooted problem with eating.

She added: "It wasn't about body image...

"I accidentally fell into an eating disorder - I didn't intentionally [starve myself]."

5

Doctors later gave her a wake-up call after her nutritional problems had a serious effect on her health and they told her she may never have kids.

She added: "My mum took me to the doctor.... They said 'You are affecting your fertility'.

"That was my wake-up call - it took a couple of years to get better."

She went on to reveal she kept her issues secret from Paddy at the beginning of their relationship, but eventually opened up to him about her problems.

5

Christine added: "I met him at 19. He had no idea I had these issues with food.

"He thought I was fussy... I always said I had already eaten [when we went out to dinner]."

At the end of the chat, Christine was treated to a video message from her husband, who told her: "You're a fantastic wife and mother and a fantastic human being... Now hurry up home - we've run out of Calpol."

The couple, who married in 2011, are parent to three children - twins Leo and Penelope, three, and nine-month-old Felicity.