Eating disorders research
Around 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder
Eating disorders can have a devastating impact on the lives of young people and their families, yet our understanding of what causes them is limited.
The scale of the problem is rising, with more young people than ever before receiving treatment. Despite this, research investment continues to languish behind the already limited funding available for other mental health conditions.
£4.1 million
invested in life-changing eating disorders research as of 2025, thanks to our supporters. But there is still more to do.
What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses affecting people of all ages, genders, ethnicities and backgrounds.
People with eating disorders use disordered eating behaviour as a way to cope with difficult situations or feelings. This behaviour can include limiting the amount of food eaten, eating very large quantities of food at once, getting rid of food eaten through unhealthy means (e.g. making themselves sick), or a combination of these behaviours.
Why eating disorders research matters
Anorexia has the highest death rate of any psychiatric disorder, and other eating disorders such as bulimia can lead to severe medical complications.
We need to know much more about what causes eating disorders, in order to improve treatments, and prevent them from developing in the first place.
Support research into eating disorders
We get far more applications for funding for eating disorders research than we can fund. 4.5x the amount, in fact. This is vital science that we just aren’t able to support right now, but you can help change this.
Donate nowSome of our funded eating disorders research
Transforming eating disorder care through policy-focused research
We awarded Changing Policy and Practice funding for researchers working specifically in the field of eating disorders.
Launchpad grant funding to address alarming rise of severe eating disorders
We invested over £700,000 into eight new research projects aiming to uncover what can be done to better prevent, diagnose, and treat eating disorders.
Find out more
Preventing eating disorders: exploring the role of decision-making
Research by Dr Amy Harrison from UCL is paving the way for new eating disorder prevention tools.
Improving the lives of people with an eating disorder and autism
Professor Kate Tchanturia from King’s College London has developed a new clinical pathway for people with an eating disorder and autism.
Donate now
We need your help to continue funding life-changing eating disorders research
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