Anorexia: Cricketer Arul Suppiah speaks about health struggles

Classed as an eating disorder and serious mental health condition by the NHS, anorexia is often associated with young women - not former professional sportsmen in their 30s.

Except it should be. Anorexia can affect anyone at any time and for Suppiah, who made more than 200 appearances in county cricket, it had taken over his life.

What started as a health kick in 2017 had turned into something much more serious. Suppiah was exercising too much, eating too little and actively avoiding social situations, particularly those involving food.

The weight dropped off Suppiah and the comments on his appearance from those around him served as validation to 'The Voice'.

After he almost fainted at work, a subsequent doctor's appointment where he was advised to take time off and some soul-searching with his family, he decided enough was enough. Except it wasn't.

"It got worse after being signed off," said Suppiah, 41. "I was literally on my last warning.

"I remember my psychiatrist saying, 'if you don't improve or if you don't progress, I'll have to send you to hospital under the Mental Health Act,', external to sort of be sectioned.

"I pleaded with her to give me a chance and I somehow managed to just turn it around a little bit."

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