Eating Disorders News and Research

Latest Eating Disorders News and Research

Study links changes in opioid neurotransmitters to anorexia nervosa

A study conducted at Turku PET Centre in Finland showed that changes in the functioning of opioid neurotransmitters in the brain may underlie anorexia.

27 Jan 2025

Study finds sharp increase in mental health admissions among children in England

There was a 65% increase in the number of children and young people being admitted to general acute medical wards in hospitals in England because of a mental health concern between 2012 and 2022, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

22 Jan 2025

Study sheds light on how hand size influences weight perception

Researchers have assessed the human perception of the size and weight of body parts, specifically the hand, comparing it to the perception of objects and concluded that it is different.

17 Jan 2025

Brain maturation delays linked to unhealthy eating behaviors in youth

More than half of 23-year-olds in a European study show restrictive, emotional or uncontrolled eating behaviors, according to new research led by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London.

10 Jan 2025

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': End-of-year chaos on Capitol Hill

After weeks of painstaking negotiations, Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate agreed to a major year-end package of health bills, including new regulations for drug companies and pharmacy benefit managers, and renewals of programs to combat opioid abuse and prepare for the next possible pandemic.

19 Dec 2024

Study explores how culture impacts body image for Hispanic women

While culture is intertwined with values surrounding food and body image, cultural differences have historically been overlooked by researchers and clinicians seeking to identify and treat eating disorders.

16 Dec 2024

Physical tests offer prognostic insights for lung cancer patients

A study of patients with metastatic lung cancer by researchers based in Brazil and the United States has found that their performance in simple physical tests such as sitting down, standing and walking can help physicians arrive at a prognosis and approach to treatment.

22 Oct 2024

Study reveals emotional eating risks in middle-aged women with PCOS

Emotional eating and uncontrolled eating are more common in middle-aged women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

17 Oct 2024

Electrolyte abnormalities in eating disorders associated with higher risk of death from any cause

A new study published in The Lancet Psychiatry found that 32% of individuals with an eating disorder had abnormal electrolyte levels, which were associated with a higher risk of death from any cause.

18 Sep 2024

Study reveals sequential neuronal activation regulating food intake

The process of food intake appears to be organized at the cellular level like a relay race: during eating, the baton is passed between different teams of neurons until we have consumed the appropriate amount of energy.

17 Sep 2024

Researchers propose ketogenic diet as a novel treatment for anorexia nervosa

Research identifies a neurobiological model supporting a ketogenic diet as a therapeutic approach for anorexia nervosa, addressing both metabolic and psychological factors.

9 Sep 2024

Calorie information on menus: Worsening eating disorders?

Research paper examines the impact of menu calorie labeling on individuals with eating disorders, revealing both potential benefits and significant risks, and calls for further study to better understand these effects.

29 Aug 2024

Primary care providers key to addressing emotional eating

Primary care providers are well positioned to address emotional eating because of their long-term relationships with patients, noted Jana DeSimone Wozniak, PhD and Hsiang Huang, MD, MPH, of Harvard Medical School and Cambridge Health Alliance in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

28 Aug 2024

Increased mental health risks in patients with brain aneurysms

Among people who had aneurysms (weakened areas in brain blood vessels), the risk of developing a mental health condition was higher than among peers without an aneurysm.

26 Aug 2024

How diet shapes gut microbiota and affects brain function

Researchers discuss the diet-microbiota-gut-brain axis, which describes the role of both diet and gut microbiota composition on cognitive and emotional health.

26 Aug 2024

Researchers urge inclusion of marginalized groups to bridge bulimia nervosa treatment gaps

Researchers identified significant disparities in bulimia nervosa treatment, urging more inclusive research to address gaps in care for marginalized populations.

16 Aug 2024

Does cannabis use disorder increase the risk of head and neck cancer?

Researchers determine whether cannabis use disorder increases the risk of head and neck cancer.

12 Aug 2024

Polycystic ovary syndrome linked to greater risk of disordered eating in women

Women with the common reproductive and metabolic condition polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) face a greater risk of developing bulimia, binge eating disorder and disordered eating, according to new research published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

8 Aug 2024

Pro-anorexia content on TikTok may harm women's body image and mental health

Women who spend a lot of time on TikTok - especially those seeing a lot of pro-anorexia content - feel worse about their appearance, a new study shows.

8 Aug 2024

Enhancing family-based treatment for anorexia nervosa: The role of intensive parental coaching

A study opens in new tab/window in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP)opens in new tab/window, published by Elsevier, investigated adaptive treatment for Anorexia Nervosa (AN), a serious psychiatric disorder with high morbidity and mortality.

15 Jul 2024