Eating disorders (EDs) are characterized by body image disturbances, abnormal eating, and weight-control behaviors associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes across multiple physiological and psychosocial domains of functioning. EDs pose one of the highest mortality risks among psychiatric disorders, are often difficult to treat, and incur substantial healthcare and social-economic costs. Counter to the widespread perception that EDs affect mostly white, adolescent girls from wealthy, industrialized countries, recent years witnessed an unprecedented increase in ED incidence among individuals of diverse genders, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds. About 1.7% of the global population suffers from an ED during their lifetime, with the current Covid-19 pandemic and public health restrictions likely resulting in further spikes across the globe. Interdisciplinary research points to a critical role of social, cultural, economic, gender, sex, and other diversity factors in determining ED risk, understanding ED etiology, and assessing ED presentation. However, future research should extend our understanding of how an interdisciplinary focus on diversity could improve the detection, treatment, and prevention of EDs.
Frontiers in Psychiatry is working on connecting the dots in psychiatric and psychosomatic research by encouraging an interdisciplinary approach on diversity issues in EDs research. There is a need to increase our understanding of social, cultural, economic, gender, sex, and other diversity factors in the development, maintenance, and treatment of EDs. These factors may contribute to EDs due to their effects on physiological, psychological, and/or ecological levels, suggesting that an adequate analysis may involve multiple areas of expertise.
This Research Topic on Eating Disorders (EDs) aims to promote the collaboration of multidisciplinary teams from a number of professional disciplines to foster high standards of comprehensive care, research, and best practice in ED treatment for an increasingly diverse ED population.
This Research Topic will help the researchers get an in-depth understanding of EDs as a global mental health issue.
The shared implications of the study findings may:
a) Provide an overview of recent advances on diversity issues in eating disorder research;
b) Help identify comprehensive intervention strategies to reduce mental health consequences within diverse populations;
c) Enhance awareness on diversity issues related to eating disorders and their multiple implications.
We welcome original research articles and systematic reviews that contribute to our understanding of diversity in ED etiology, its presentation, and advancing ED treatment approaches including, but not limited to:
• Novel findings on neurobiological, psychological, social-environmental risk factors for ED development, or their interaction
• ED treatment access by means of investigating social, cultural, structural, or personal barriers; identify barriers and opportunities to intervene early and rapidly respond to under-represented individuals with eating disorders
• Treatment approaches based on technological innovation or interdisciplinary collaboration that may enhance treatment adherence, responses, or long-term remission
• Discuss diversity issues in ED presentation, diagnosis, or treatment outcomes; examine the impact of EDs on diverse populations including racialized individuals and indigenous people.
Eating disorders (EDs) are characterized by body image disturbances, abnormal eating, and weight-control behaviors associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes across multiple physiological and psychosocial domains of functioning. EDs pose one of the highest mortality risks among psychiatric disorders, are often difficult to treat, and incur substantial healthcare and social-economic costs. Counter to the widespread perception that EDs affect mostly white, adolescent girls from wealthy, industrialized countries, recent years witnessed an unprecedented increase in ED incidence among individuals of diverse genders, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds. About 1.7% of the global population suffers from an ED during their lifetime, with the current Covid-19 pandemic and public health restrictions likely resulting in further spikes across the globe. Interdisciplinary research points to a critical role of social, cultural, economic, gender, sex, and other diversity factors in determining ED risk, understanding ED etiology, and assessing ED presentation. However, future research should extend our understanding of how an interdisciplinary focus on diversity could improve the detection, treatment, and prevention of EDs.
Frontiers in Psychiatry is working on connecting the dots in psychiatric and psychosomatic research by encouraging an interdisciplinary approach on diversity issues in EDs research. There is a need to increase our understanding of social, cultural, economic, gender, sex, and other diversity factors in the development, maintenance, and treatment of EDs. These factors may contribute to EDs due to their effects on physiological, psychological, and/or ecological levels, suggesting that an adequate analysis may involve multiple areas of expertise.
This Research Topic on Eating Disorders (EDs) aims to promote the collaboration of multidisciplinary teams from a number of professional disciplines to foster high standards of comprehensive care, research, and best practice in ED treatment for an increasingly diverse ED population.
This Research Topic will help the researchers get an in-depth understanding of EDs as a global mental health issue.
The shared implications of the study findings may:
a) Provide an overview of recent advances on diversity issues in eating disorder research;
b) Help identify comprehensive intervention strategies to reduce mental health consequences within diverse populations;
c) Enhance awareness on diversity issues related to eating disorders and their multiple implications.
We welcome original research articles and systematic reviews that contribute to our understanding of diversity in ED etiology, its presentation, and advancing ED treatment approaches including, but not limited to:
• Novel findings on neurobiological, psychological, social-environmental risk factors for ED development, or their interaction
• ED treatment access by means of investigating social, cultural, structural, or personal barriers; identify barriers and opportunities to intervene early and rapidly respond to under-represented individuals with eating disorders
• Treatment approaches based on technological innovation or interdisciplinary collaboration that may enhance treatment adherence, responses, or long-term remission
• Discuss diversity issues in ED presentation, diagnosis, or treatment outcomes; examine the impact of EDs on diverse populations including racialized individuals and indigenous people.