Eating Disorder Research & Studies

Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and others, have increased in prevalence over the past 25 years. While experts have discussed changes in ideal body image, manufactured foods, and obesity as root causes, these remain puzzling diseases of unknown, but complex bio-psycho-social etiology. Research has made amazing […]

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a puzzle for many reasons. What is it, and what can we do to treat it are commonly asked questions by students and health professionals alike? While we do not have a blood or other test to make a diagnosis, the combination of signs and symptoms are classic and are virtually […]

Contributor: Colleen O’Sullivan, RDN at Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center Researchers, medical doctors, and the mental health community know a great deal about the disease of anorexia and the study of anorexia. It is characterized by vast weight loss, fear of weight gain, and intense denial on the part of the individual with the illness. […]

When looking at individuals with bulimia, there is more dopamine drive in this reward chemical. As such, you can’t only focus on eating. You have to also watch for drug and alcohol or sexual addiction, shoplifting, or gambling. These individuals just want to feel better as soon as possible. As such, I treat a lot […]

It is only in the last 20 years that the idea of anorexia as a biologic controlled genetic mental illness has come about. For so long, treatment focused on the need for control, environment, parents, etc. that was causing these issues. It is only recently that we have begun to study the neurobiology of eating disorders. […]

As a child psychiatrist, I don’t often get a lot of biological information. I’ll see if someone has anorexia by how their body looks, whether or not they are malnourished, etc. However, the amount of information I’m getting about how their brain works, and therefore, which medicines might work, is pretty minimal. Genetic information also […]

The job that this DSM-5 provides is to help answer the question of whether or not an individual meets the criterion and may have an eating disorder. However, there is a large grey area. For example, an individual may have relatively low weight without an eating disorder, as there can be other explanations for this. Research Domain […]

I am the Medical Director here at Laureate Eating Disorders Program. I’ve been here for almost 15 years now, and I really enjoy getting the ability to work with patients both inpatient and outpatient. I am FBT trained and run a residential program. I also do research, so, I have experience with eating disorders from all angles. I […]

Current Research on Anorexia Studies: There are various studies around Anorexia Nervosa due to the longer diagnosis and funding for research within the Western society. Various studies have looked at the neurological process, the psychological process through recovery, as well as lesser known treatment applications for the effectiveness of improvement in the treatment of anorexia […]

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Director of Content and Social Media at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope Eating disorders are complex psychiatric illnesses, and through various research efforts, we have come to a greater understanding of these diseases and how to more effectively treat them. Awareness of eating disorders as well as diagnostic tools, treatment […]