How the Eating Disorder Field can Adapt to the Changing Landscape

The eating disorder treatment field still lives in an old medical system which believes that information spreads primarily through clinicians, books and sanctioned websites. Acting as if these sources are the primary way patients learn about their illness is absurd and only does them a disservice.

We may want to live in an antiquated world with limited access to verified, absolute knowledge, but believing this lie forces patients to look elsewhere for guidance and to trust in the eating disorder field less and less.

The only people who still seem to believe the lumbering eating disorder system are parents who cling to an old way of following guidelines that no longer exists.

People with eating disorders are regularly frustrated and shamed by a system of poorly run treatment programs, unsubstantiated recovery guidelines,

rigid ideas about eating disorders and a willingness to blame the patient when things go wrong.

In addition, the reality of private equity companies running so many of the programs means that for profit entities guide much of the treatment available.

Reasonably, patients look elsewhere for guidance. TikTok is flooded with people with eating disorders sharing ideas about how to get better and about associated medical illnesses the field ignores. Reddit allows patients to discuss all of the knowledge they have amassed to give hope and direction for recovery. Patients use this information to find clinicians willing to help them be stable enough to opt out of a field willing to keep them stuck rather than find creative ways to help them get better.

Sure, clinicians can lament the changes in information dissemination along with technological innovation and change, but to what end? The changes are here, and people with eating disorders need clinicians willing to adapt to our changing world and not pretend we live in an old media universe. What is to be done?

First, acknowledge that social media provides a useful resource for all of us to learn more about our these illnesses. It’s not like eating disorder treatment is wildly successful or else people would accept the help that is offered. Respecting all different experiences can help us find more success in recovery.

Accept that creative approaches to treatment are needed. We need to consider and address medical issues that may be part of or even the cause of an eating disorder. The myth of an eating disorder as chronic stems from our ignorance rather than the idea of an untreatable illness.

Take into account the various financial incentives of bad actors in a field in which so little understood. The combination of capitalism and health care means that rich people take advantage of confusing and ineffective medical care by creating systems that make money off of treatment. The success of the treatment is often at odds with profit. Clinicians need to be mindful of their recommendations to any patent by staying informed.

Educate oneself about new medications and be open to their utility in eating disorder recovery.

Let’s work together to stay on top of an ever-changing system. These changes are neither positive or negative. They are the reality. Acceptance allows for any clinician to use valuable knowledge to improve care and outcomes.