Centre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders

**NEW STUDY IN SOUTH LONDON FOR ADULTS WITH ANOREXIA NERVOSA AND CO-OCCURRING DEPRESSION IS NOW RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS** The EDEN study explores the feasibility of using ketamine in people with AN and depression www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN26462355. Contact the EDEN study team: eden@kcl.ac.uk

More details about the project are available here:
🔗 www.medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk/projects/lon...

She adds:
"Loneliness can significantly affect treatment outcomes. With this project, I hope to better understand how these experiences interact and use that knowledge to inform more personalised, meaningful interventions."

Dr İnce Çağlar says:
"I am thrilled to receive this award, which will enable me to comprehensively investigate an important, but under-researched, association between loneliness and eating disorders in young people."

We’re proud to share that Dr Başak İnce Çağlar @basakince.bsky.social‬ has been awarded a Launchpad Grant in Eating Disorders Research from the Medical Research Foundation 🎉 ‪@medresfdn.bsky.social‬

Eating disorders typically develop during adolescence or emerging adulthood — where people are vulnerable to loneliness.

@medresfdn.bsky.social has funded @basakince.bsky.social to inform the development of assessment and treatment approaches www.medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk/projects/lon...

More details about the project are available here:
🔗 www.medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk/projects/lon...

She adds:
"Loneliness can significantly affect treatment outcomes. With this project, I hope to better understand how these experiences interact and use that knowledge to inform more personalised, meaningful interventions."

Dr İnce Çağlar says:
"I am thrilled to receive this award, which will enable me to comprehensively investigate an important, but under-researched, association between loneliness and eating disorders in young people."

A recent study investigated how emerging adults with anorexia experienced support from family and friends. Findings highlighted the interplay between the development and recovery from anorexia and the process of becoming independent during emerging adulthood. Read the paper here:
t.co/79nmdn0zqe

People with eating disorders (ED) often struggle with anxiety, which can worsen symptoms and hinder recovery. This review found mixed evidence for medications treating anxiety in EDs, but more research is needed. Read the full review here:
t.co/G7ExPAJo6B

Have your say on early intervention for eating disorders! Click the link below for more information:

eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...

🧠Autistic people with EDs face unique barriers to care. This paper explores how the #PEACEPathway—a tailored, autism-informed ED approach—improves engagement. 8 key domains emerged, leading to a practical self-assessment checklist for services.

www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17...

🧬🔬 New study finds significantly lower leptin levels in people with anorexia nervosa vs. recovered individuals and healthy controls—highlighting leptin as a potential state biomarker. IGF-1 may also play a role, but more research is needed.
www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17...

Lifetime history of depression and eating behaviours: a co-twin control study of the TwinsUK registry The extent to which depression impacts eating behaviours, and the mechanisms underpinning their relationship are unclear. We aim to investigate the re…

🧠New twin study finds links between depression and eating behaviours — especially emotional and restrained eating. Genetic and environmental factors partly explain this connection, with antidepressants also playing a role.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

For day 5 of #EatingDisordersAwarenessWeek, we're sharing work from EDIFY WS 5!
We have reached 50% of our recruitment target for the RaISE trial of non-invasive neuromodulation for anorexia 🧠
We are still recruiting!
To find out more, contact amelia.1.hemmings@kcl.ac.uk

A study poster with bright colours and shapes, with two people exchanging books in the bottom right corner. The text reads: "We want to hear your STORY! Join the STORY study! Are you... between 16-25 years, and have an eating disorder, or have no eating disorder or major mental health diagnoses? The STORY study is a one-year long study to explore the diverse experiences of young people with eating disorders and how they recover from them. Interested? Contact us under: STORY@kcl.ac.uk"

For day 4 of #EatingDisordersAwarenessWeek, we're sharing work from EDIFY Workstreams 3/4!

These Workstreams are focused on understanding how young people recover from their eating disorder and how their eating disorder changes over time. As such, we are recruiting for STORY.

YouTube video by EDIFY research The STORY study: Participant information and recruitment

You can find out more about the study by watching our recruitment video or visit the EDIFY website: tinyurl.com/WeWantToHear...

youtu.be/gRyVHnKYw4Y?...

Characterising illness stages and recovery trajectories of eating disorders in young people via remote measurement technology (STORY): a multi-centre prospective cohort study protocol - BMC Psychiatry Background Eating disorders (EDs) are serious, often chronic, conditions associated with pronounced morbidity, mortality, and dysfunction increasingly affecting young people worldwide. Illness progres...

Additionally, if you are interested in learning more about the scientific side of STORY, you can read our published protocol paper using the link here: tinyurl.com/STORYProtoco...

This visual abstract describes key findings of a recent study conducted by researchers of the EDIFY team on the relationship between sleep and disordered eating. As part of this graphic, it is outlined that about one in four young people experience sleep problems. Furthermore, the graphic states that sleep and disordered eating can be linked through a variety of factors including disturbed mood. Based on information provided by more than 6,000 young people in the UK, we investigated if sleep and disordered eating are associated across time. Within our study, we found that sleep (as assessed at age 14) did not predict disordered eating at age 17. However, we found that disordered eating (as assessed at age 14) did predict poorer sleep quality at age 17 through depressive symptoms. We conclude that more research is needed to explore the relationship between sleep and different forms of disordered eating.

For day 3 of #EatingDisordersAwarenessWeek, we’re sharing work from EDIFY Workstream 2!

An infographic featuring four boxes arranged in a grid layout. Each box contains distinct text: Box 1: In workstream 2, we use cohort data to explore potential risk factors for eating disorders. Box 2: Currently, we are looking at the topic of childhood food insecurity and links with disordered eating in adolescence. Box 3: We know that eating disorders occur across the socio-economic spectrum, but we know less about the impacts of growing up in food insecurity. Box 4: Using cohort data means we get a bigger picture of the population, not just people who typically participate in research.

For day 3 of #EatingDisordersAwarenessWeek, we’re sharing work from EDIFY Workstream 2!

This workstream uses large cohort data to explore the interplay of risk and protective factors for eating disorders, including unique and shared pathways in different groups.

A digital poster from EDIFY and the University of Nottingham. The title reads “Workstream 1 update.” The text explains that researchers are studying how young people with lived experience of eating disorders discuss ED content on TikTok. The study also explores how the platform’s algorithm may create "echo chambers" that expose vulnerable users to more ED content. The poster features illustrations of three young people using smartphones. The University of Nottingham logo is in the top right corner.

For day 2 of #EatingDisordersAwarenessWeek, we’re sharing an update on EDIFY Workstream 1 from the University of Nottingham. @tamsinparnell.bsky.social

YouTube video by EDIFY research Food Insecurity in Eating Disorders: A Short Animation

📣This #edaw2025, we wanted to share a recent animation we made with Woven Ink on food insecurity in people with eating disorders.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMhU...

Please share this flyer with eating disorder caregivers, to help King’s College London with their vital research on improving access to ED care and the treatments people are offered. @kingsioppn.bsky.social @kingsedresearch.bsky.social @edifyresearch.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social

New publication on help-seeking in eating disorders, with consideration of intersecting marginalised characteristics. Brilliant first PhD publication from Jessica Wilkins! @freedfromed.bsky.social @edifyresearch.bsky.social @kingsedresearch.bsky.social

jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

Enteral Tube Nutrition in Anorexia Nervosa and Atypical Anorexia Nervosa and Outcomes: A Systematic Scoping Review Background: Anorexia nervosa and atypical anorexia nervosa require refeeding as a core part of their treatment, and enteral tube nutrition (ETN) may be needed in some individuals either to supplement ...

📚Enteral tube nutrition (ETN) is sometimes needed as a part of treatment for anorexia nervosa. This scoping review explores outcomes across ETN phases, from initial nutrition to the transition to oral intake.
www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17...

⌛️Early intervention is key for people with eating disorders. We aim to test a the feasibility of a mobile app to encourage help-seeking behaviors and promote early intervention. Read the protocol here:
link.springer.com/content/pdf/...

Monthly mingle: Drop-in lunches with the Joint R&D Office Monthly drop-in lunches for researchers to discuss any general or study-specific questions with the Joint R&D Office.

Drop-in and speak to the Joint R&D Office about any questions related to setting up and running studies in @maudsleynhs.bsky.social

🗓️Next session is Wed 5 Feb, 12:30 - 13:30
📍Seminar Room 5, IoPPN

Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/monthly-mi... @kingsioppn.bsky.social

Autism, ADHD, and Their Traits in Adults With Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder: A Scoping Review Objective This review maps existing literature on the prevalence of autism and ADHD in adult patients with Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and Binge Eating Disorder (BED); patient and stakeholder perspectives ...

🧠Autism & ADHD are more common in adults with BN/BED, yet patient experiences & treatment options remain underexplored. More research is needed to improve care & outcomes. Read this recent review here:

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...

Impact of out-of-home nutrition labelling on people with eating disorders: a systematic review and meta-synthesis Objectives Mandatory nutrition labels for out-of-home food consumption have been introduced in several countries to curb rising obesity levels. However, concerns have been raised about the potential n...

We just published a systematic review on the impact of the out-of-home nutritional labels (i.e., restaurants, cafes) on people with eating disorders. Key points and next steps below 👇

bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/1/...