Projects and activities
ED HIT activities cover research and patient and public involvement. We aim to champion equality, diversity and inclusion in all that we do as a HIT.
Eating Disorders HIT Body Mass Index (BMI) survey
The NHS Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator is a standard way to measure whether people have a healthy weight. Your BMI result is displayed as a number with a corresponding category of underweight, a healthy weight, overweight or obese.
Public contributors have suggested that the NHS BMI calculator is not culturally sensitive, as perceptions of obesity change from person to person, and between people from different cultures. It was also acknowledged that maintaining a healthy weight can sometimes force people to practise restrictive eating habits.
The EDHIT has worked with the Healthy Weight HIT to launch an anonymous survey to find out how people feel about the NHS BMI calculator.
Research
Our HIT director Christine Ramsey-Wade is an academic based at University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). She is involved in a range of projects, including supervising doctoral theses on trans and non-binary experiences of eating disorders and the experience of disordered eating among South Asian university students.
EDHIT holds an annual research conference to exchange knowledge and build networks. It is attended by healthcare professionals working in eating disorder services and charity sector organisations across the UK.
In 2023 we welcomed more than 170 participants online, with representation from across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, as well as nationally and internationally.
The theme was ‘gender and eating disorders’, and raised awareness of the specific needs of people from under-represented and minoritized groups, with a focus on males, and trans/non-binary and Muslim community groups.
Presenters and topics:
- Latika Ahuja (UWE): Positive body image in men (no presentation available).
- Simone Harding (UWE): Eating disorders and the trans/non-binary perspective
- George Mycock and James Downs (MyoMinds): Eating disorders and men
- Dr Helena Lewis-Smith (UWE): Disordered eating in Muslim men
Feedback from the event indicated improvements in practice, through the provision of more inclusive care.
“Great speakers, great that this is a free event and very inclusive, opening and welcoming. Highly recommended.”
“I found the conference very interesting and thought-provoking. There are elements that will inform my therapy practice and I have been inspired to do more research myself.”
Patient and public engagement
We hold a Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) event annually. This event is organised and hosted by our Peer Co-Director and PPI Lead Carolyn. It’s an event for those with lived experience of eating disorders or eating difficulties, as well as family, carers and friends. Please see more details in the PPI section.
We are currently evaluating our Eating Disorder Support App that was launched in 2022.
