Eating disorders

Eating disorders (EDs) are serious mental health problems associated with poor quality of life and a wide range of psychological, social and medical complications. EDs are rapidly increasing in prevalence, but compared to other mental health conditions, there is very little research into the conditions, limiting our understanding and ability to develop new, effective treatments.

Importantly, EDs commonly occur alongside other conditions and neurotypes (such as obesity and autism) - yet the majority of research is carried out without drawing on expertise and innovations from these other areas. There is a pressing need for new ED research, with wider and more diverse collaborations, to ensure progress in this field.

Led by Dr Karri Gillespie-Smith & Dr Fiona Duffy from the University of Edinburgh, this project aims to increase ED research capacity, by:

• Facilitating collaborations across diverse disciplines, with a specific target on researching EDs in Autistic people.
• Supporting the development of interdisciplinary research networks that bridge academia, autistic peer researchers, the third sector, policy, clinicians and people with lived experience.
• Developing a series of networking, priority setting and research events that are firmly embedded in lived experience.
• Improving career development via both early career and peer researchers, supporting a new generation of scientists.
• Developing a unique Scottish research collaboration to develop and diversify ED expertise across the UK.

At the heart of this project will be a new interdisciplinary network hosted in Scotland. This network will develop four streams of work:

1. Coming Together: They will host collaborative events which bring together researchers, clinicians and autistic people with lived experience of EDs to explore the ethical challenges and best practice approaches of research in this area.
2. Setting the Agenda: They will use an arts-based methodology called photovoice to allow autistic people with EDs to share their experiences and set the priorities for research in this area. This will involve an exhibition showcasing the images created by these participants.
3. Testing the Approach: Researchers will come together to try out new approaches and collaborations based on the priority areas identified in the second work stream. The network will carry out a series of interdisciplinary events to explore and share the learnings from these trial studies.
4. Research into Practice: The network will host a think tank event for policy makers and those working in clinical practice. This will focus on to ensure research impacts the lives of autistic people with EDs, including how to develop effective clinical services for this population in Scotland.