Autism and Eating Disorders

Autism and Eating Disorders: Research, Lived Experience and Autism-Affirming Care

What does effective eating disorder treatment for Autistic people look like, and how can lived experience help shape better research and clinical care?

In this National Scientific Seminar, Dr Karri Gillespie-Smith and Dr Fiona Duffy from the University of Edinburgh present the work of the Eating Disorders and Autism Collaborative (EDAC), exploring the intersection of autism and eating disorders and the importance of meaningful co-production with Autistic people with lived experience.

The seminar explores eating disorder treatment experiences and outcomes for Autistic people, research priorities identified through an inclusive Photovoice project, sensory and cognitive experiences, and the ways Autistic traits may both challenge and facilitate eating disorder recovery.

The presenters also share practical approaches to autism-affirming eating disorder care, including sensory audits of clinical environments, adaptations to eating disorder assessment and earlier, individualised adaptations to treatment and eating disorder-focused family therapy.

Watch the full seminar to discover how autism research, eating disorder research and lived experience expertise can come together to support more individualised, person-centred eating disorder care.