Emmerdale fans are worried that Gabby Thomas could be facing a cancer diagnosis in upcoming scenes, after the GP revealed she is suffering from orthorexia and severe nutritional deficiencies.
In the latest episode, which aired on Friday, October 2, and is now streaming on ITVX, Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker) told Gabby (Rosie Bentham) that her blood test results showed severe nutritional deficiencies. Manpreet explained: "I'm a little bit concerned that, well, there's something more serious going on."
Orthorexia diagnosis revealed
Manpreet continued: "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." The GP explained that the disorder can develop when someone has an obsession about food purity, which can lead to an irrational fear of eating most foods. She added: "And your blood results show you're quite far down that road already."
After Gabby ran through her typical daily intake, Manpreet noted: "Without the right balance of protein and carbs, it's simply not sustainable." The GP then suggested that Gabby try to have a bit of each food group.
Fans predict cancer twist
Several Emmerdale viewers are now concerned that Gabby could instead be diagnosed with cancer in upcoming scenes. "What do people think's wrong with Gabby?" one person asked on a Facebook fan page.
After Gabby's recent chest infection, which led to a nasty cough, someone replied: "Lung cancer." They weren't alone in their thoughts, as another viewer 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 said: "Why do I get the feeling she's going to be killed off?"
What's next for Gabby?
The drama is set to continue for Gabby, as she collapses at work next week. Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) calls for an ambulance and when Gabby wakes up, she allows Manpreet to tell Laurel the full extent of her concerns. Whether Gabby will be ready to accept help remains to be seen.
Emmerdale airs weekday nights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Beat is a charity which raises awareness and understanding of eating disorders, and supports those affected by them.
