EDHIT conference explores equality, diversity and inclusion in eating disorders
- 19th October 2022
More than 130 people joined Bristol Health Partners Eating Disorders Health Integration Team (EDHIT) on 11 October for its online research conference addressing equality, diversity and inclusion in eating disorders.
EDHIT were particularly pleased to see representation from many different ethnicities, sexual identities and religious groups – thank you to all attendees who completed the monitoring form.
Presenters and topics
The first speaker was Farheen Hasan, who discussed research into fasting and disordered eating in young British Muslim women. Findings suggest fasting in Ramadan led to increased preoccupation with appearance and food, and increased control over their eating behaviours.
Next, Ryan Jones presented on Lesbian experiences of anorexia and bulimia, suggesting that eating disorders were a way of coping with emerging lesbian identity in a heteronormative world.
Finally, Professor Lucy Serpell and Charlotte Babb spoke about understanding autism and eating disorders. They presented findings from SEDAF: Study of Eating Disorders in Autistic Females, and highlighted other research which has found that 20-30% of women with anorexia nervosa meet the diagnostic criteria for autism (Huke et al., 2013; Westwood, Mandy & Tchanturia, 2017).
Find out more: Anorexia nervosa: an interview with Mair Elliott and Dr William Mandy
Feedback
EDHIT asked delegates to comment on what they thought about the event:
“All of it was useful and interesting but I found the discussions around Autism particularly helpful. We are starting to recognise this more within our ED service and the impact on patients’ ability to use the therapy we offer”
“I found all of the presentations equally useful. I think the one I hadn’t thought about before was the presentation on lesbians and eating disorders, very insightful and really made me think about my own practice.”
“The presentation of different research especially around Ramadan. The lack of understanding clinicians have in the depth of experiences people from different culture may experience and its further influence on individuals was really eye-opening to think about and also something I was able to relate to coming from minority background myself.”
“I loved the presentations as I have learned a lot from them. Very interesting subjects and very educational.”
“Found all presentations excellent – for the diversity and new areas being explored – very valuable findings to guide practice. I also found the questions helpful in allowing the speakers elaborate on the topics”
