Eating disorders almost destroyed 28kg Hongkonger. How she beat them and now thrives
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But life was not always so rosy for Millamena, who struggled with depression and eating disorders in her teenage years. She hit rock bottom in 2019 when, aged 18 and weighing just 28kg (62lb), she held a knife to her throat in the kitchen of her parents' home.
Her father intervened, and Millamena was hospitalised for a year after her suicide attempt.
Today, at a coffee shop in Central, Millamena can talk candidly about her battle with
anorexia nervosa – a condition that causes people to obsess about their weight and food – and
bulimia , which is characterised by binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting or fasting to prevent weight gain.
Millamena pictured in 2018. In her teenage years, she struggled with depression and eating disorders. Photo: courtesy of Miley Millamena
By sharing her story, Millamena hopes to destigmatise eating disorders and raise awareness about their grave impact.
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She says they are not taken seriously in Hong Kong, and the fact that the city lacks official statistics on eating disorders strengthens her claim.
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