Samantha Stonehouse, 35, right, a company director, forgoes food during the day in order to fit in more work and be more attentive to clients. Experts say this is extremely unhealthy and can place stress on the body and impair mental performance. Sunny Andrea, 32, left and inset, is a product support specialist for a financial pricing firm. She drinks protein shakes instead of eating meals. The women often binge on large meals in the evening, making up for lost calories earlier in the day.

Louise Stewart-Scott, 14, of Jersey, has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), causing hypermobility and her joints to dislocate. She also suffers from scoliosis, an abnormal curvature in her spine (an X-ray of her spine is pictured, inset). Before the age of eight, when she was diagnosed with EDS, she loved gymnastics. However, she was forced to quit as the condition meant even pushing herself up of the ground could cause an injury. Once, her shoulder became dislocated after giving her mother a hug, and she ended up in a wheelchair (right) as crutches could further dislocate her shoulders. After undergoing prolotherapy, a series of 120 injections in her joints, she has began non-surgical treatment for her scoliosis. This involves carrying out exercises, as well as pilates, acupuncture and massage. Now, she is able to carry out aerial acrobatics again (left), and was even able to compete in a competition called Island Games this year. Her mother, Lorraine, 53, said: 'She was last on stage and that was the highlight of her year, after a year of injections and therapy, it was such a proud moment for us. It's just made everything worth it, it seems such a small amount to pay to see her living.'

The roll call of celebrity jeweller Stephen Webster's fans reads like a Who's Who of showbiz royalty. He designed a cocktail ring - and later a wedding band - for Madonna, and other devotees of his creations include supermodel Kate Moss, singer Christina Aguilera and actors Johnny Depp and Cameron Diaz. Yet behind the awe-inspiring bling there has been a darker side to Stephen's life, less publicised than the glorious gems, riotous launch parties and star clients.At his lowest point, Stephen, who is 5ft 10in tall and is pictured (left) now and (right) when he was in America consumed by a 'fear of food', weighed only eight stone. His low body mass index (a weight-to-height ratio used by doctors) put him at risk of immune system problems, malnutrition, bone loss and other conditions.

November is a fraught month for Major-General Alastair Duncan (left), writes FRANCES HARDY. Fireworks transport him back into the thick of combat zones: he believes the bangs are mortar bombs, sniper fire, and that he is again protecting his troops. His wife Ellen (top right), and a growing body of expert medical opinion, believe his psychiatric disorder has been caused, in part, by the controversial anti-malarial drug mefloquine, or Lariam (bottom right), which he was given for six months in 1999 before being deployed to West Africa.

Harmonie-Rose Allen, of Bath, Somerset, was struck down by deadly meningitis B when she was only ten months old - just ten days after she took her first steps. Doctors told her parents Freya Hall and Ross Allen that their daughter had a 10 per cent chance of survival, and that the little girl's case was one of the worst they had ever seen. But Harmonie survived - although she lost her arms, legs and the tip of the nose - and last month she tried out a new high-tech walking frame, which physiotherapists hoped would help her to walk. Now, the two-year-old girl has been fitted with her first set of prosthetic legs with feet, which she has been testing out with a new pair of purple buckle-up shoes.

Jenny Grieve, 22, from Bournemouth, was struck down with a rare form of encephalitis in August 2014. She spent months in hospital (top right) as her organs began to fail. Doctors managed to save her but the condition, which causes inflammation of the brain, left her with little short term memory. She now has to keep a diary so she can remember the last hour. She said: 'Now I write everything I do down on paper to ensure I don't forget what I have done each hour.'

Maisie O'Brien, 29, of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire (bottom right), was diagnosed with epilepsy and an ultra-rare genetic condition called Shox depletion at just nine months old (top right). She endures up to 40 seizures a day, leaving her parents Nicky (left) and Neil, 29 and 43, petrified she will have a fit and stop breathing while they are asleep. her parents are currently raising money for a special mattress which will sound an alarm should she begin to convulse. They are also hoping to buy a sleep apnoea machine, which monitors her breathing, and will also sound an alarm if she doesn't take a breath for 10 seconds. Mrs O'Brien said: 'Night times are the most worrying for us, as she could stop breathing or vomit and choke on it. Her seizures could be fatal, which is the worst fear for any parent of an epileptic baby.'

Doctors at a Kentucky hospital have successfully separated conjoined twin girls (bottom right). Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville said in a statement that the eight-hour surgery was performed on the seven-week-old girls on November 11. While both remain on ventilators, the statement said they are getting stronger each day. The girls, whose names have not been released, were joined at the chest and abdominal cavity.

Lesley and Doug Facey, of Newfoundland, Canada, knew that Kirill, of Kazakhstan, was meant to be their son after they learned he had the same condition as Doug's father, Chris, who was also born without a right hand. A heartwarming photo was captured of Chris and Kirill's first meeting at the airport in Canada.

Annalise Scott, 45, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer five months ago. She was later told the disease had spread to her bowel, appendix and spine. In light of the news, she decided to marry her partner Kevin Wilson, 52, immediately and the pair planned a wedding in 24 hours (pictured right and inset). They held the service at the Trinity Holistic Centre,at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough on October 29. A local brideswear shop donated the dress (pictured left), and volunteers and staff across the hospital and centre donated fairy lights, silver bells, flowers, plants and food. Just three weeks later, Miss Scott - who is now Mrs Wilson - lost her battle to the disease. Her husband, who is planning her funeral according to her wishes, says he is glad she was able to have her dream wedding before her death. Recalling the wedding, Mr Wilson said: 'She stroked my face and said "you'll be all right". She said "I can die happy now. All I ever wanted was to get married in white".'

Helen Jacobs, 45, of north London, began gaining weight after having children. A series of abusive relationships left her with little confidence and low self esteem. She ballooned to 27st 4lbs (173 kg) (left) and became bedbound, incontinent, and had to be cared for by her children. Doctors warned she would need to use a wheelchair to get around forever (inset) unless she lost weight, so she decided to take action. Over three years, she managed to lose 18 stone (114kg) through diet, exercise and a gastric band operation. She dropped 12 dress sizes and is now a svelte size 10 (right). She says she is happier than ever. She said: She said: 'I was over the moon when I finally bought a pair of size 10 knickers, I was screaming with joy. My children and everyone else always say that I'm always smiling now. It's taken three years, but I'm so proud of what I've achieved.'

Aiesha, who was born without an anus or rectum, no inside vaginal organs and no cervix or uterus and is also missing one kidney, delivered an emotional speech to her peers about being 'normal'. She described how bullying had lead her to believe the world would be better without her.

Bag Balm was designed to keep cow udders soft and free of infection. Now celebrities are fans and use it as lip balm and hand cream. Claire Coleman tries it out - and isn't a huge fan. She also recommends more animal-inspired products to keep humans moisturised and smelling good.

Skyla Barker, from Stoke-on-Trent was taken to her GP by her worried mother after becoming pale and lethargic. A blood test days later revealed the suspected tonsillitis was in fact leukaemia. Now the brave youngster faces two years of chemotherapy and treatment to fight the disease.

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Elaine, 45, went on the reality TV show Botched to have an operation on her nose. She had suffered problems with her nose since childhood after her sister hit her in the face. This was made significantly worse when she broke it during a car crash years later. The initial reconstructive surgery following the crash left her with a unsightly dent and ruined her confidence. It took her 24 years to pluck up the courage to have a further operation to correct it. But now the mother is thrilled with the results.

On Tuesday night's episode of E! reality series Botched, Kayden, from Hoboken, New Jersey, asked Los Angeles-based surgeons Paul Nassif and Terry Dubrow to remove her 700cc implants (right) and reconstruct her breasts using smaller ones (left). Kayden, who was a man (inset) until her early 20s, explained that getting breast implants was meant to signify the end of her transition to a woman.

Inside video captures the former 205-pound front desk staffer at Bob's Gym North transformed before the audience's eyes into a confident and sculpted competitor, with his first ever fifth place ranking at a competition held in Louisville, Kentucky.

New Zealand All Blacks star Jonah Lomu has passed away at the age of 40. Former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew revealed Lomu had died unexpectedly on Wednesday morning. He underwent a life-saving kidney transplant in 2004 before his body rejected the organ in 2011. He quit the sport in 2002 after 73 games for the All Blacks because of Nephrotic syndrome, a rare kidney disease. He has been on dialysis treatment for more than a decade.