A former anorexic who was 'close to death' after his weight plummeted to less than seven stone has credited Great British Bake Off for saving his life.

PhD student Daniel Rough, 25, of Rothiemay, Scotland, developed an eating disorder after he became obsessed with counting calories and over-exercising. At his worst, his weight plummeted to a dangerous 6st 11lbs.

He was forced to take a break from his studies and found comfort in well-loved cooking show, Great British Bake Off, binge-watching the first five seasons.

A former anorexic who was 'close to death' after his weight plummeted to less than seven stone has credited Great British Bake Off for saving his life. Daniel Rough pictured during (left) and after (right) his battle with an eating disorder

Soon he found a love for baking and began recreating the show's technical bakes each week.

Mr Rough has now fully recovered and weighs a healthy 9st 5lbs.

He says: 'I think I'd have died if I'd carried on - I was lucky that I didn't do any permanent damage to my body. The show really helped me when I was at my lowest.

'I looked forward to watching it every week, and practicing my baking skills alongside the contestants.

He was forced to take a break from his studies and found comfort in well-loved cooking show, Great British Bake Off, binge-watching the first five seasons. Pictured, Daniel's spanische windtorte

Pictured, the spanische windtorte produced on the popular TV show Great British Bake Off

Mr Rough, of Rothiemay, Scotland, has now fully recovered and weighs a healthy 9st 5lbs. Pictured, Daniel's focaccia bread

Pictured, Paul Hollywood's famous focaccia bread - an Italian bake topped with herbs

'And I loved sharing my finished products with friends and family. I had a small slice of everything I baked so it helped me to eat more, too.'

Mr Rough, who is studying for a PhD in computer science at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, first developed an eating disorder in November 2011.

He says: 'I was going through a stressful time, feeling isolated and missed my family while away studying.

'After arguing with my flatmates and moving out, I started controlling my food portions and became really conscious of calories and nutrition.

He says: 'I think I'd have died if I'd carried on.' Pictured, Daniel's black forest chocolate gateau

Pictured, Mary Berry's black forest gateau made on Great British Bake Off

'As a teenager, I'd always had a relaxed attitude to eating but suddenly I was obsessed with checking food labels.

'I even measured my food - my flatmates never noticed so my behaviour got worse.'

He admits that his behaviour was influenced by magazines filled with muscly men which triggered him into exercising excessively.

Before long, he was running 12 miles a week, as well as working out in the gym almost every day.

Mr Rough, who is studying for a PhD in computer science at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, first developed an eating disorder in November 2011

Soon he was surviving on just 1200 calories a day, eating mostly vegetables or salad.

He says: 'My family noticed I had lost weight but, because I had always been slim and brushed off their concerns, they never pushed the issue.'

By October 2012, Daniel realised his habits had gotten out of control and he needed help.

His weight had dropped from 9st 8lbs to seven stone, so he visited his GP.

After tests, Daniel was diagnosed with eating disorder anorexia nervosa.

Soon he was surviving on just 1200 calories a day, eating mostly vegetables or salad. Pictured, Daniel's mint chocolate macarons

Pictured, the macarons made in a range of colours on the popular baking show

In March 2013 he started counselling with a therapist, where they gave Daniel coping mechanisms to help with his stress. Pictured, Daniel's hot cross buns

Pictured, Mary Berry's hot cross buns produced on Great British Bake Off

Back at home he confided in his parents, Ian, 56, a council worker, and Catherine, 52, a classroom supervisor, who noticed how low Daniel's mood was.

In March 2013 he started counselling with a therapist, where they gave Daniel coping mechanisms to help with his stress.

Through regular sessions, as well as the support of his family, including younger sister Katie, 22, Daniel slowly began to recover.

He says: 'I made a conscious effort to regain a normal eating pattern. I upped my carb intake and increased my food portions as well as cutting down on exercise.'

Within a year, Daniel weighed a healthy 9st 2lbs. But then, in September 2013, Daniel started a PhD in computer science and his bad habits returned.

Mr Rough pictured with Great British Bake Off contestant in October last year

He says: 'All my friends had graduated so I was living with strangers - I began to feel isolated again. Along with the intense workload, I was stressed and I relapsed.

'As I was cooped up at my desk all day, I started eating less to compensate for hardly moving around.'

For the next two years, Daniel struggled to regain control of his eating. And, by December 2015, his weight plummeted to 6st 11lbs.

At 5ft 9in tall, his BMI was a shockingly low 14.

He says: 'I never realised at the time how thin I was. I only ate salads or meals that were less than 500 calories and, along with my excessive exercising, it meant my weight dropped dramatically.

He realised his mental health problems were affecting his studies so he took a six-month leave of absence from university

'I was constantly exhausted and it was a struggle to get out of bed because I felt so weak.'

He realised his mental health problems were affecting his studies so he took a six-month leave of absence from university.

During his time off, he stayed at his parents' home where he focused on eating properly and strength training, hoping to build muscle to his thin frame.

Gradually, he increased his portion sizes and picked up a new hobby - baking.

He said: 'I first watched the Great British Bake Off just before my weight dropped to its lowest.

'That Christmas, my parents got me a Great British Bake Off cookery book and, while I was on leave, I watched the entire boxset, which is where my addiction to the show began.

During his time off, he stayed at his parents' home where he focused on eating properly and strength training, hoping to build muscle to his thin frame

'It really gave me an outlet to be creative and to push the stress of my PhD aside - it saved my life.

'I began copying the show's weekly bakes and sharing my tasty creations with my loved ones made me much more sociable.

'I baked constantly - once I even woke my flatmate up at 3am because I was kneading dough in the kitchen.'

He has recreated bakes such as black forest gateau, spanische windtorte (a cake made with meringue and cream), and mint choc macarons.

Now, he is continuing his PhD and looking forward to the new season of GBBO.

He says: 'I'm looking forward to the new season although it won't be the same without Mel and Sue.

'I'd love to earn money from baking but, for now, it's a pleasure of mine - and makes me realise how far I've come.'