Jordan Caldwell finds renewed purpose during anorexia recovery
Reaching his 30th birthday gave Jordan Caldwell a milestone he once struggled to imagine. The Northern Ireland youth football coach, who has lived with anorexia since childhood, marked it with a long-planned professional photoshoot.
He told BBC News NI that having someone he could trust was central to finding renewed purpose. Working with coach Aamir Ishtiaque over four years, he began with small goals before building towards the occasion.
Caldwell previously received specialist treatment after a relapse. He still manages his eating disorder daily, and his personal experience does not establish bodybuilding as a treatment for anorexia.
The NHS describes treatment as usually combining talking therapy with supervised support to restore weight, alongside checks on physical and mental health. Recovery needs care matched to the person.
For Caldwell, the achievement was about reclaiming something he loved. He described the shoot as one of the happiest days of his life, and hopes sharing his story helps others see a future for themselves.
Sources
React to this story
Keep the useful discoveries coming.
Get stories around your interests, with links to the evidence and context, in a free email on some Fridays.
See an example and sign up