A TEENAGER from Peeblesshire who revealed worries at school led to her developing an eating disorder has scored top marks in her exams.

Sixteen-year-old Rebecca Irvine, of Waverley Mills, Innerleithen, admitted anorexia took over her life while she was studying for her exams at Peebles High School.

However, she revealed cycling helped her control her condition.

And now, after receiving three As in her National 5 exams, the local schoolgirl, who revealed she hopes to be a primary school teacher, is planning to complete a 200 mile charity cycle with her dad, William, to help others battling with eating disorders.

Rebecca, who describes herself as a recovering anorexic, told the Peeblesshire News: “Cycling saved me, it helped me when I was in the depth of my eating disorder, it helped me clear my mind and I feel great cycling.

“It was easy at school to avoid eating because you could just skip lunch, nobody apart from my friends noticed. At home I hid food.

“I became a horrible person riddled with anorexic thoughts, nothing mattered to me except seeing my weight go down on the scales.” Rebecca was a typical teenager who enjoyed her sports before anorexia took a grip.

She revealed she controlled her anxiety by not speaking in class.

However, at the turn of the year, it quickly spiralled out of control.

Rebecca, a black belt in karate, explained: “I felt I’d lost control so I controlled myself by restricting my food intake.” As the teenager starved herself, she lost 10kg in weight in just 10 weeks, dropping to just 50kg - under eight stone.

And her parents admitted they noticed a “dramatic” difference in her appearance.

Visits to the hospital began to take their toll on Rebecca and her studies.

However, with the help of the professionals, and the support of her family, she began to regain control of her life again.

Rebecca said: “I said I don’t want this to happen, I wanted to be like a normal teenager.

“I didn’t want to have all these appointments with psychiatry and the dietician.

“I began to see how much life I was missing. I’m now thankfully trying my hardest to recover and get my old life back.” Rebecca began cycling, which she enjoyed. However, she was only allowed to get on her bike if she kept her weight up.

And now that she is feeling fitter, she is planning to cycle 200 miles in two days, from Newcastle to Edinburgh, on October 11 and 12 to raise money for national charity Beat which helps people like Rebecca “beat” eating disorders.

She will be supported by her dad William who admitted he is proud of his daughter for the way in which she has turned her life around.

Rebecca, who has already raised £350 in sponsorship, said: “Me and my dad are cycling 200 miles for Beat because this charity means a lot to me.

“Beat helped me through the toughest challenge of my life and I want to help the charity to help as many young people as possible overcome eating disorders.

“Beat is a British charity that helps all young people who need help and support through the tough journey of an eating disorder, they provide helplines and online support.

“I chose to embark on a cycle because cycling is something that helped me when I was in the depth of my eating disorder. Neither my dad or I have ever cycled anywhere near 200 miles and we are going to be really pushing ourselves to complete it, but knowing that our hard work will be helping a charity so close to me will spur us on.” Rebecca has set up a page on Just Giving for anyone who would like to sponsor her. To donate, log on to: www.justgiving.com/Rebecca-Irvine1998/ For more information on eating disorders and the work that Beat do, log on to the following website: www.b-eat.co.uk