Eating disorders (EDs) are common, disabling, and costly problems that affect up to 10% of individuals in their lifetimes. The peak age of onset is in the teenage years,
and EDs are more prevalent in girls vs boys. Health consequences can be severe and
manifest themselves to a greater degree among teens (e.g., growth retardation, peak
bone mass reduction). However, there is an extremely wide treatment gap for EDs,
and 80%+ do not receive treatment. The problem of access to care for EDs is even
worse for certain groups. Those from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds with EDs are
less likely to receive care or even be asked by a doctor about symptoms. Access to
evidence-based care is also worse in rural areas and for low-income populations.
Early intervention is especially important during adolescence, because untreated
symptoms become more frequent, severe, and persistent over time, and shorter time between ED onset and start of treatment is associated with better outcomes.
However, there are major barriers to treatment for adolescents with EDs, including
stigma; cost of services; lack of urgency to seek services; and lack of access to care,
including lack of tailored treatments for this age group.
The program specifically seeks to screen for and assist in the treatment of the following EDs:
- Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
- Bulimia Nervosa (BN)
- Atypical Anorexia Nervosa (AAN) (LINK COMING SOON)
- Anorexia Nervosa (AN)
Additional resources can be found on the National Eating Disorder Association’s (NEDA) website.