Australia's first national strategy for eating disorders released
The National Eating Disorder Research Strategy is Australia鈥檚 first national strategy of its kind and outlines the ten questions that need answers to improve the quality of life for all affected Australians and their families.
At least a million Australians are affected by eating disorders, but only about 200,000 receive evidence-based treatment. It is considered the leading psychiatric cause of death.
Anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders have profound impact on individuals, families and communities.
In addition听 there may be many undiagnosed instances, because the early signs often aren鈥檛 recognised, there is significant stigma and stereotyping associated with eating disorders. There is also insufficient research into the best ways to prevent, detect and treat these disabling and sometimes deadly mental health disorders.
That鈥檚 why patient advocates, people with eating disorders, clinicians and researchers came together to develop the National Eating Disorder Research Strategy.
We know that early intervention can prevent severe illness, we know that many people can fully recover if they get the right therapy at the right time
鈥淲e worked with over 480 people around Australia to develop the strategy and to define the Top 10 most urgent research priorities, that can make a real difference over the next decade,鈥� said Dr Sarah Maguire, Director of the InsideOut Institute at the University of Sydney, who spoke at the launch today.
鈥淲e know that early intervention can prevent severe illness, we know that many people can fully recover if they get the right therapy at the right time,鈥� said Dr Maguire.
鈥淏ut unless we discover the right treatments through research and translate them into the right therapies received at the right time, people don鈥檛 and won鈥檛 recover.鈥�
Credit: Inside Out
Priority areas for research
The Top Ten Priority areas for research include:
- stigma and health promotion
- risk and protective factors
- prevention
- early identification
- equity of access, do no harm
- early intervention
- support families
- individuals medicine and treatment outcomes.
鈥淓ating disorders are poorly understood by the general public and medical professionals鈥�, said Dr Maguire.
鈥�70 percent of people with an eating disorder don鈥檛 get treatment, and of those who do, only 20 percent receive an evidence-based treatment.鈥�
鈥淲e need to work with clinicians so they can intervene effectively, using the best research,鈥� said Dr Sian McLean, President of the Australian & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders and one of the researchers who contributed to the development of the Strategy.
鈥淎nd we all need to be aware of the early warning signs of eating disorders, especially in people who might not fit public stereotypes.鈥�
鈥淓ating disorder research has been historically very poorly funded. Government investment in this strategy marks a significant turning point.鈥�
Eating disorders can be associated with significant body changes, for example weight loss in anorexia nervosa, but most people who live with eating disorders don鈥檛 experience this, and so their struggle can be hidden, go unnoticed or even be dismissed by clinicians.
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Credit: Inside Out 听
One of the many contributors to the strategy was Shannon Calvert, who has used her experience of living with Severe and Enduring Anorexia Nervosa (SEAN) to embed the 鈥榣ived experience鈥� in research and treatment for eating disorders and mental health.
"The best treatment for eating disorders is person-centred and compassionate, and that's also true of research," said Shannon.
"We have to integrate research and clinical practice so that our experience can educate scientists and health professionals, and inform the questions that they pursue."
听鈥淎ustralia has internationally recognised strengths in eating disorders research,鈥� said Mr David Coleman, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, in his foreword to the strategy.
鈥淭ranslation of that evidence into practice is essential to improve outcomes for people experiencing this serious group of illnesses.鈥�
The Australian Eating Disorders Research & Translation Strategy was developed by eating disorder researchers, clinicians and people with lived experience through a collaborative and iterative process. This co-designed methodology also involved over 480 individuals and the national and state peak advocacy bodies. Development of the Strategy was led by InsideOut Institute with support from the Australian Government.
About InsideOut
The InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders 鈥� a collaboration between the Sydney Local Health District and the University of Sydney鈥檚 Faculty of Medicine and Health, based at the University鈥檚 Charles Perkins Centre 鈥� aims to ensure every Australian living with an eating disorder has access to the best possible care by rethinking eating disorders from the 鈥榠nside out鈥�. Visit insideoutinstitute.org.au