15-year-old girl's devastating Google searches before her tragic death

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By Asiya Ali

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A father has revealed his 15-year-old daughter's heartbreaking search history before she died.

Robb Evans's teenage daughter, Olivia, passed away in April last year after a battle with anorexia nervosa, as reported by ABC.

Doctors told the father, from Australia, that his daughter had a "terminal" illness and needed to be hospitalized as her health and mental state were declining.

"The doctor had said to us that if this doesn't change in this [hospital admission] then she's not going to be here for the next one," Robb told the publication.

Robb revealed that his beloved child's health battle began when she was bullied in school at the age of 13.

He did not disclose the details but said that the incident triggered body image issues within her. "The claws were in so deeply she couldn't see a place to recover," he said, as cited by Daily Mail.

The heartbroken dad also shared that before Olivia's tragic death, she googled how many calories she could eat a day.

"It got more sinister in how few calories could you consume in a day to live," he said. "She was searching for this content and then being presented with more and more of it."

GoogleOlivia googled how few calories she could eat a day to live off before her tragic death. Credit: Chesnot / Getty

Robb has now started a campaign to get children off social media apps as he believes platforms like Instagram preyed on his little girl "whether intentional or not".

"People that are saying, 'I'm healthy and I live off 200 calories a day,'" he told Nine's 60 Minutes.

"I said, 'Liv, they're lying,'" he continued. "I said, 'You have to understand that these people might be saying they're healthy' but I said 'You cannot survive on 200 calories a day and this is the reason why.'"

He also said he would "liken where we are now to when we made the changes to the gun laws," explaining that changing the age restrictions will have some backlash but "we need to do this".

"It's the right thing to do and you just have to make a stand," he said. "Instagram provides the perfect platform for people that are vulnerable to feel worse... I mean, it's got a lot to answer for, for sure."

social media logoEvans believes apps like Instagram affected his daughter's mental and physical health issues. Credit: NurPhoto / Getty

Independent MP Zoe Daniel has also called on the Australian government to address what she describes as "an incredibly challenging thing to treat".

Daniel said eating disorders impact patients both mentally and physically, and the condition "urgently" needed dedicated hubs for better treatment.

"And we really need to be doing research, educating young people, and finding better treatment pathways and support for families," she added, per ABC. "I think the supports that are available are quite fragmented."

In sharing Olvia's story, Robb is hoping that quiet kids like her get protection.

"She was so loving and kind, very creative, loved animals, and never had a bad word to say about anyone," he said, "I obviously miss her every day."

"She certainly made me a better dad as a result of her being my daughter," he concluded,

Our thoughts are with Olivia's loved ones at this time.

If you or someone you know is battling an eating disorder, please get in touch with the National Eating Disorders Association's helpline at (800) 931-2237 or visit https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline
Featured image credit: Chesnot / Getty