Shockingly, Emily is only 14 but already weighed a staggering 21st - at 5ft 5 she had a BMI of 48.9 (the healthy range is 18-25), putting her at risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Emily, a size 22-24, was used to gorging on 4,000 calories a day, including three packets of crisps and biscuits. She hadn't left the house for three months - except to go to school - because she was too ashamed of her size and was desperate for help.
So Closer teamed up with the GI Jane bootcamp to help overhaul her unhealthy lifestyle and after spending a week with their expert team, and guest trainer Josie Gibson, Emily lost over one stone.
And now, after heading back to GI Jane’s for another week, Emily has, in total, lost 2st 2lb and seen an incredible 12 inches come off her waist.
Speaking to Closer, the teen, has revealed how the positive results, and the exercise and nutrition advice is inspiring her to get healthy again.
She says: “It was hard to begin with - I struggled with the running and the exercises like lifting weights – but it got easier as the week went on. I was kept busy, so didn’t feel hungry and ended up enjoying the healthy food as I knew it would give me energy.
“I was the youngest person at the boot camp but the other women were lovely, they’d cheer me on and encourage me when I found it tough.
“Josie’s my inspiration, she lost the weight and kept it off and I know I can too. I’ve lost a stone and feel really good, I’ve got much more energy already.”
And Emily – who’s planning to start joining in PE lessons after sitting out for three years because of her weight – is excited about going back to the bootcamp, based in Sittingbourne, Kent, in the coming months.
She adds: “If I carried on like I did before, eating fatty foods and doing no exercise, I’d die young, I don’t want to be like that ever again.”
“I’ve bought a bike and have been food shopping with Mum – we’ve stocked up on loads of fruit, vegetables and rice cakes – so I can keep up being healthy. I know I can do this – if I’m tempted to eat sugary snacks I go outside or have an apple – it’s not going to be easy, but I need to change.”
When Emily first went to bootcamp, she formed a close bond with guest trainer and reality TV star Josie Gibson, who, like Emily, struggled with her weight throughout her childhood, and weighed 18st at just 18.
Josie says: “When Emily arrived at bootcamp, she reminded me of how I looked and felt at her age. She struggled to even walk and had no energy. But in just a week, she’s changed so much. Her skin is glowing and she’s smiling all the time. I’ll never let her go back to being the way she was – I’m so proud of her.”
Emily lives with her mum, Vicki, 37, dad, Lee, 41, and her five siblings, in Suffolk. While her siblings and father are all average size, Emily is overweight, something Josie – who’s struggled with her weight as a child – knows just how difficult it can be.
Josie says: “Like Emily, I was a big child. My mum tried her best but she didn't know anything about nutrition. Most nights we'd have junk food, like pie and chips."
The death of Josie’s father when she was 10 led to her comfort eating and piling on the pounds.
She says: "I found solace in food. Every time I felt sad, I'd stuff myself with sweets and crisps.
"I had no confidence and felt isolated from everyone. Shopping with my friends was hell, I couldn't fit into trendy clothes and people shouted 'fatty' at me in the street."
Nine years on, aged 26, Josie had gone up to a size 22 and, weighing 16st, decided to make a change.
She says: "I’d been trying diets since I was 16, but nothing worked for me. I decided to try a nutrition course and it changed everything. I learnt what foods would fill me up and give me energy and through making the changes, the weight started to fall off.”
Josie - who's 5ft 11 is now a size 12 and 10st 5lb- lost an incredible 6st through careful diet and exercise over the course of six months.
She adds: “I’d do high intensity training five times a week, for 30 minutes at a time. The fitter I got, the more healthier I felt, it was great to be able to work out for longer – I loved how fit I felt.”
So at GI Jane Bootcamp, in Sittingbourne, Kent, Josie was determined to help Emily slim down.
She says: "We bonded because we'd both been through the same thing. I wanted to show her you can lose weight, no matter how big you are.”
The routine at boot camp was stringent – getting up at 5.30am and doing eight hours a day of solid exercise, interspersed with three healthy meals and two snacks such as rice cakes or nuts.
But that, along with time with Josie, who made her realise she was far from alone in lacking the confidence to go out or exercise, has given Emily the resolve to lose weight.
Emily says: “I’m lucky that I’ve never been bullied about my weight, but I felt like I couldn’t go shopping with my friends, and I was worried about people teasing me if I went out alone, but Josie went through that too. And having someone to talk to made me realise I wasn’t alone and that life can get so much better.”
Josie adds: " To keep her motivated, I’ve promised her that when she reaches her goal weight, we’re going on a shopping spree at Topshop. She’s not been able to shop there before because of her size, but we’re determined to get her there.”
And Emily has already put changes into place.
She says: "Mum’s banned junk food in the house, we don’t want the temptation around. I've learnt about diet and nutrition and the trainers have shown me exercises to do at home.
“My friends are really proud of me and are being really supportive. Before, I didn’t talk to anyone about being overweight, but after being with Josie and the trainers. I’ve learnt that I can change and get fit and that I shouldn’t be ashamed.
“I’ve got a new bike to help keep me active. I won’t let my fear hold me back.
“I felt really sad to leave the boot camp, I’m really excited about going back again in May! I haven’t decided on a target weight but I want to feel good about myself and be like other teenage girls.”
Make sure you keep an eye out on Emily's progress, online and in the magazine.
With thanks to the incredible team at the GI Jane Bootcamp - the UK's leading women's boot camp, where guests are guaranteed to drop a dress size in a week
Visit www.gijanebootcamp.co.ukfor more details.