A mum’s weight loss pact has saved the life of her anorexic daughter.
Dolly Jenkinson made the healthy diet pact after Ruth’s weight fell to 4st 13lbs and doctors feared her organs could fail at any moment.
Desperate to make her 17-year-old eat Mrs Jenkinson made the pact to stick to a diet and loose weight, if Ruth would try and start eating again.
Talking to the Daily Mail the 44-year-old said: “It was an unusual bargain, but I knew I had to do something to get Ruth eating again.
“When I suggested that I lose weight if she would put it on, she agreed to try it. And it really worked. She would help me with my meal plans to lose weight, and even cooked some of the meals. It ended up saving her life.”
The pair, who live in Northover, Essex with husband and dad Peter, have proved the pact was a success; Mrs Jenkinson has lost 3st while Ruth has put on nearly 2st.
Ruth’s parents say she began to watch her weight when she was 13 after a visit to her GP – where a swollen calf muscle was blamed on her weight.
The 5ft 3in girl, who weighed 10st at the time, started to skip meals and survived on a diet of cereal for breakfast and lunch.
Hiding her weight loss under baggy clothes it wasn’t until 18 months later that Mrs Jenkinson discovered her daughters 2st lighter frame in a slim-fitting cream dress at a wedding.
Mrs Jenkinson said: “I was horrified as I could see that she had become too thin. The dress was a size ten and it was miles too big for her.”
By October 2009 Ruth’s weight had dropped to a life-threatening 4st 13lb, stopping her periods and covering her body in downy hair.
“I would beg her to eat and then she would shout at me that it was all right for me, I didn’t have to follow a meal plan,” said Mrs Jenkinson.
“That’s when I came up with the idea. That I would follow a meal plan if she did too.”
On joining Slimming World Mrs Jenkinson weighed 12st 7lb, she now weighs 9st 7Ib.
Having Ruth help her follow a healthy eating plan Mrs Jenkinson has dropped three dress sizes and gone from a size 16 to a ten.
Ruth, who now weighs 6st 3lb, said: “I was so proud of mum’s food diary and got a real buzz out of helping her. I’m determined to stay well.”