Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham) is fighting a secret battle with disordered eating in Emmerdale, a struggle she doesn't even fully recognize herself. The trigger was Ross Barton (Michael Parr), who rejected her advances, sending Gabby into a spiral of self-doubt. The spiral has been gradual, meaning the stoic businesswoman hasn't let on to anyone that her mind is becoming a mess. All she knows is she's trying to grab back control of her life, and the one thing she can control is food.
Hidden Signs of Disordered Eating
Gabby has been displaying troubling signs of possible disordered eating, but she's been hiding it under the guise of focusing on nutrition and healthy eating. While that in itself isn't a worry, and why no one has picked up on it yet, things are set to take a dark turn. One little bit of light is that Gabby and Billy (Jay Kontzle) seem to be getting together, but even that is complex. It's as if she's latched onto the first guy to pay her any attention. Trouble is, he happens to be Dawn's ex.
Dawn's Disapproval and Billy's Support
Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) is far from happy about this arrangement and asks Gabby and Billy to hold off telling the kids. It's a shame for Gabby that though she's found a good one, she can't yell it from the rooftops. Things are going well for them – Billy even backs her when Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) goes against her healthy menu at the Hide. But there are subtle dangerous signs that Gabby's food issues are escalating, and Billy isn't enough of a distraction to make it go away. Fighting so vehemently against Laurel for the healthy food menu is one sign; another is where her food anxiety is clearly spilling over into her motherhood.
Food Anxiety Affects Motherhood
Gabby is due to take Thomas to a friend's birthday party, but when she sees the food on the menu, she panics. She will not allow her son to touch the stuff. So, she bans Thomas from going purely based on the kids' food menu, suggesting her disordered eating is already getting out of control. The question remains: will Billy notice something is off with his new lover?
