‘Recovery is possible’... Ratoath woman’s five-year battle with eating disorder’

A young Ratoath woman who developed anorexia during the Covid-19 pandemic has spoken candidly about the devastating impact the illness had on her life, as she urged anyone struggling with an eating disorder to seek help early.

Nineteen-year-old Elsa Jane Johnson shared her recovery journey alongside her mother Brigid at the launch of the Bodywhys 2025 Annual Report, highlighting the life-changing role the charity played in her recovery and offering hope to others facing similar challenges.

The report, launched by Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler TD, revealed that 6,696 people accessed Bodywhys support services in 2025 through its helpline, support email service, online support groups, family support services and structured support programmes. More than 80,000 people have been supported by the organisation over the past 30 years, with demand continuing to rise, particularly among young people and their families.

Elsa, now a student of Speech and Language Therapy, was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at the age of 14 after first beginning to restrict her food intake during the first Covid lockdown.

“It started during lockdown when I began restricting what I was eating,” she recalled.

“My mum became concerned because I was losing weight, but I kept telling everyone I was just trying to eat healthily. That's the nature of an eating disorder. You become very deceptive because you're trying to protect the thing you believe is keeping you safe and in control.”

Over the summer, she spent time with her grandmother in Mayo, where her eating disorder escalated and she was able to hide the extent of her food restriction from her family.

When she returned home, her mother Brigid noticed the dramatic weight loss, but Elsa continued to conceal the seriousness of the illness.

“I'd eat in front of my mum so she'd think I was eating. We'd go shopping together and I'd ask for cereal bars, but I was actually hiding them in my room.”

The turning point came one December while the family was decorating the house for Christmas.

“I remember climbing the stairs to get the decorations from the attic and my heart was pounding out of my chest. I had lost hair and I knew I was really sick, but I couldn't stop. The eating disorder had completely taken over.”

When Brigid later discovered a hidden stash of uneaten food in Elsa's bedroom, she contacted their GP and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). However, amid a surge in eating disorder referrals during the pandemic, the family was told it could be months before Elsa could be seen.

“My mum said, 'She'll either be dead or she'll be in hospital by then,'” Elsa recalled.

The family instead sought private treatment, attending weekly family-based therapy sessions before Elsa later transferred to CAMHS.

Although grateful for the care she received, Elsa said the lack of specialist staff and continuity made recovery more difficult.

“There were periods where I had no help whatsoever. There wasn't the consistency I needed, and consistency is key in recovery.

“It doesn't matter how much you restore somebody physically if you don't treat the psychological side. Otherwise they'll just relapse.”

Throughout her recovery, Bodywhys became a constant source of support for both Elsa and her parents.

Her mother completed the organisation's PiLaR Family Support Programme before later undertaking its Maudsley training programme, helping her better understand eating disorders and how best to support her daughter.

Elsa also regularly accessed Bodywhys' webinars, workshops, online support groups and digital programmes.

“Bodywhys became this pillar of hope in my life,” she said.

“I always knew they were there. They were like the back leg of a stool. I could fall sideways, but I could never fall completely backwards because Bodywhys was always there.”

It has now been five years since Elsa first became ill and she says it was only within the past year that she finally felt able to say she had fully recovered.

“Recovery takes an extremely long time. It took me five years to recover from something that developed in less than a year.

“Now I wake up and I don't think about my eating disorder anymore. If I have a bad body image day, I can recognise that it's body dysmorphia and move on.

“I'm comfortable in myself and in my body again. I'm back to my old self, but I'd say I'm an even better version of myself because I've learned there is no such thing as perfection.”

Reflecting on what contributed to her illness, Elsa said she believes social media significantly accelerated the disorder.

“I don't think it caused my eating disorder, but it definitely accelerated it.

“During Covid everything online was about home workouts, diets and not gaining weight during lockdown. The algorithms kept showing me more and more of that content until eventually I was seeing people glorifying being dangerously underweight.”

She also believes comments about body image during childhood remained with her for years.

“There were comments people made about my body when I was very young that stayed with me. Looking back, I realise body image had always been a concern.”

The Bodywhys Annual Report highlights the growing need for specialist support services. During 2025, 43 per cent of helpline calls related to someone under the age of 18, while attendance at the organisation's YouthConnect online support group for 13 to 18-year-olds increased by 44 per cent.

Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler described Bodywhys as “an essential part of Ireland's response to eating disorders”, praising its role in supporting recovery, promoting early intervention and ensuring lived experience helps shape services.

Away from her advocacy work, Elsa is also a passionate musician and songwriter who writes her own songs and plays guitar. She hopes to build a career helping others while continuing to pursue her love of music

Now a member of the Bodywhys lived experience panel, Elsa hopes speaking publicly about her journey will encourage others to seek help before their illness takes hold.

“I would say to parents, if you have any concerns, don't let it go too far. Early intervention is the biggest thing I would preach.

“And to anyone who's struggling themselves, I know it's scary and it's really difficult, but recovery is possible.

“It's not going to be easy, but it is definitely worth it.”