<p>
	A 21-year old student whose weight has dropped to 36kg is to be force-fed through a tube by order of the High Court.</p>
<p>
	Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns made the order to allow the woman, now weighing 5st 6lb and just turned 21, to be fed through a tube over the next 48 hours. He heard the anorexia nervosa sufferer began refusing food at the weekend and is now in &quot;danger of losing her life.&quot;</p>
<p>
	The woman, who cannot be identified, is significantly underweight and suffers from severe psychotic depression, hears a critical voice saying she is obese, and believes she does not deserve to live, the court heard.</p>
<p>
	Peter Finlay SC, for the HSE, said the woman&#39;s father, who was in court, supported the HSE application.</p>
<p>
	Mr Finlay said she was a very intelligent lady but when admitted to hospital in September told staff how in previous weigh-ins she concealed weights in her clothing.</p>
<p>
	A consultant psychiatrist said the woman had lost 17pc of her body weight in just three weeks.</p>
<p>
	The case will come before the court again next week.</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/woman-who-weighs-5st-6lb-to-be-forcefed-30734698.html">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/woman-who-weighs-5st-6lb-to-be-forcefed-30734698.html</a></p>
