Married At First Sight Australia bride Lizzie Sobinoff has sparked concerns for her health with a recent image she has shared on social media, in which she looks very thin.
Lizzie is returning to the reality TV show this season as an “intruder”, after failing to find love with TV husband Sam Ball on last year’s series.
Not only did Sam cheat on Lizzie with MAFS bride Ines Basic, he also outraged viewers by body shaming Lizzie, saying, “I’ve never really dated girls as big as Elizabeth in the past” and suggesting that he could perhaps “get her running in the morning”.
He even went on to defend his comments, telling TV WEEK, “That was the honest truth. She’s not a big girl, but she’s just a little bit bigger than girls I normally date.”
Lizzie delighted her fans by hitting back at the reunion dinner:
“As women, it’s a hard enough time in this life, OK. It’s is a hard enough time.
“We get so much thrown at us. We have men sitting there going, ‘well yeh, you have to be this way, you have to look that way’…
“We are expected to look a certain way because of men like that.”
Yet after the show wrapped she completely changed her look, toning down her make-up and hair and revealing a dramatic weight loss transformation.
“Happiness and getting rid people – plus plenty of rest!” she put her weight loss down to when fans asked her how she’d done it.
And now her fans are worried she’s gone too far, after Lizzie posted the above image of herself on Instagram this week.
The image shows a very thin Lizzie stripped down to her underwear promoting a skincare product, and the post sparked a tidal wave of messages of concern:
“I adore you, yet I’m genuinely concerned. This is now beyond just ‘looking skinny’ I hope you are ok,” wrote one.
“Because you are a role model to young girls and there is nothing wrong with asking for help. I believe the first step would be accepting and admitting that ‘people don’t just get that skinny for no reason’. Pls seek help and pls lookout after yourself.”
“Eat some food, to skinny,” commented another.
“Sorry I don’t want to sound rude in any way but your beautiful but you don’t look well. You have lost a lot of weight and don’t look well. I don’t want to seem rude. Please take care of yourself ❤️❤️,” said a third.
Many of the comments on the reality TV star’s page were in a similar vein.
However, Lizzie has told news.com.au that she has been diagnosed with porphyria, a blood disorder that can affect the nervous system and cause skin blistering when exposed to the sun, and lupus, a chronic auto-immune condition.
To manage both her conditions, she follows a strict eating plan and adheres to a high-carbohydrate diet. She also avoids coffee, tea and alcohol.
She also said she wears long hair extensions to protect her from the sun as both conditions can be exacerbated by sunlight.
If you’re concerned that you or someone you know may be suffering from an eating disorder, your first port of call is your GP. Your GP can refer you on to an eating disorder specialist.
There are support groups available for families:
EDANZ is a support group run by volunteers who have been affected by eating disorders (either as parents, caregivers or recovered patients).
The Mental Health Foundation Of New Zealand lists support groups on its website.
