Emmerdale viewers are worried that Gabby Thomas could receive a cancer diagnosis in upcoming episodes, after the GP revealed she is likely suffering from an eating disorder. In the latest episode, available on ITVX, Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker) told Gabby that her blood test results indicated severe nutritional deficiencies and that she may have orthorexia nervosa.
Manpreet's diagnosis
Manpreet explained that orthorexia can develop when a person becomes fixated on food purity, potentially leading to an irrational fear of eating most foods. She told Gabby: "I'm a little bit concerned that, well, there's something more serious going on. I don't want to alarm you, but I've been doing some research, and I think you may have something called orthorexia nervosa. It's a lesser known eating disorder."
After Gabby described her daily diet, Manpreet said: "Without the right balance of protein and carbs, it's simply not sustainable." She recommended that Gabby add a little of each food group to her meals.
Viewer theories
Following Gabby's recent chest infection, which left her with a persistent cough, some fans have speculated about a more serious condition. One viewer asked on a Facebook fan page: "What do people think's wrong with Gabby?" A respondent replied: "Lung cancer." Another commented: "Well I don't know but I think it could be lung cancer. They [could be doing a story] to stop the young smoking."
A third viewer said: "Why do I get the feeling she's going to be killed off?" Gabby's turmoil looks set to escalate, as she collapses at work next week. Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) calls an ambulance, and after Gabby regains consciousness, she allows Manpreet to share her full concerns with Laurel.
Emmerdale airs weekday nights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
