Sufferers – an untapped resource in the field of eating disorders

Sufferers – an untapped resource in the field of eating disorders

Working together to end eating disorders – this wheel says it all. Let’s make it happen.

I come from the ‘sufferer’ or ‘person with the eating disorder’ background, and over recent years I have started to wonder why more people ‘like me’ are not at eating disorder conferences – which I always find helpful and nurturing. I reached out to others in the ED field, and discussion has led to this article: Sufferers – an untapped resource in the field of eating disorders_2013.

We all – researchers, treatment providers, advocates, carers and … yes, SUFFERERS – must be acknowledged as part of the solution in the quest to understand, treat and prevent eating disorders.

When a problem needs solving, it helps to have contributions from diverse problem-solvers whose experiences and approaches differ. Each person and institution in whatever capacity has a crucial and different role to play in eradicating “Ed”. A solution cannot be discovered in a vacuum.

This paper,  Sufferers – an untapped resource in the field of eating disorders_2013 is a call for sufferers of eating disorders to be given more opportunity to contribute. At the very least, we all will learn by keeping this topic open for discussion. We owe this much to one another – expert, clinician, carer and sufferer alike.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this discussion and to everyone who reads this paper. Your views are welcome!