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Evaluation ViewAttendees 4

Eating Disorders
Symposia

Symposium 18 - Advocating for Comprehensive and Innovative Solutions Toward Equitable Eating Disorder Treatment

Friday, November 15, 2024
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST
Location: Grand Ballroom E, Level 5, Downtown Marriott
CE: 1.5

Keywords: Eating, Mental Health Disparities,
Level of Familiarity: Basic to moderate
Recommended Readings: Egbert, A. H., Hunt, R. A., Williams, K. L., Burke, N. L., & Mathis, K. J. (2022). Reporting racial and ethnic diversity in eating disorder research over the past 20 years. The International journal of eating disorders, 55(4), 455–462. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23666,  

Moreno, R., Buckelew, S.M., Accurso, E.C. et al. Disparities in access to eating disorders treatment for publicly-insured youth and youth of color: a retrospective cohort study. J Eat Disord 11, 10 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-022-00730-7

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Simone, M., Slaughter-Acey, J., Hazzard, V. M., Eisenberg, M., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2022). Exploring the intersection of multiple social determinants of health and disordered eating behaviors in a population-based sample in the United States. The International journal of eating disorders, 55(11), 1589–1602. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23795

 
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Eating disorders (EDs) are a group of complex biobehavioral disorders that often onset during adolescence but can persist until or emerge later in life. Intervening early in the illness course is paramount, as EDs have a high mortality rate and evidence suggests improved outcomes with prompt treatment. Specifically, delayed access to ED care is associated with a more chronic and persistent course of illness and can have devastating psychological and physiological complications including severe malnutrition, organ failure, and death. Thus, removing barriers to accessing ED care is crucial to improving outcomes for individuals with an ED.

Widespread misconceptions portray those with an ED as thin, White, affluent, cisgender females, but these assumptions are not supported by evidence. Indeed, fewer than 6% of those with an ED are ever clinically underweight, and those with lower socioeconomic status are 27% more likely to screen positive for an ED than their higher socioeconomic status counterparts. Those with marginalized racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender identities are also at risk for EDs at similar or greater rates to their non-marginalized counterparts. Despite this, individuals with an ED who hold one or more marginalized identities are less likely to be screened for an ED, be referred to care, or receive treatment for their ED.

These misconceptions have contributed to a paucity of research examining EDs in those living in poverty, in higher weight bodies, and with marginalized racial and ethnic identities. Thus, significant gaps exist in determining the efficacy of treatments in diverse populations, as well as the dissemination of effective, accessible treatments to everyone who may suffer from or be at risk of an ED. To ensure equity in ED care, we must identify and address barriers to accessing care for all with an ED and ensure our research is conducted in representative samples to maximize generalizability.

This symposium will examine current research on barriers to accessing ED treatment and proposed solutions to increase access. Our speakers will discuss racial inequities in ED research, current disparities in treatment, and a novel, community developed single-session intervention to increase access to ED treatment. Rather than simply focusing on existing barriers/problems within the current system, we will take a solution-focused approach to identify opportunities for improvements in care and, alongside the conference theme, will inspire innovative ways for providers and researchers to be inclusive of historically marginalized individuals. Presentations will emphasize the role of advocacy in developing effective solutions to overcome barriers to treatment for groups historically underrepresented in ED treatment and research.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Describe current disparities in eating disorder treatment throughout the lifespan.
  2. Explain how food insecurity contributes to the development of disordered eating.
  3. Identify inequities in eating disorder assessments and research.
  4. Outline the rationale for the use of a novel community-engaged single session intervention to increase access to ED care.
  5. Discuss innovative steps for improving equity in ED treatment and research.

Presentations:

  • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST
    (SYM 18) Community-engaged Development of Single-session Interventions to Address Unmet Eating Disorder Treatment Need

    Speaker: Blair Burnette, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Michigan State University

    Co-author: Cecelia Tucker, BA – Michigan State University

    Co-author: Emma K. Crumby, BS – University of Louisville

    Co-author: Heather A. Davis, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

  • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST
    (SYM 18) Barriers and Facilitators to Binge-eating Disorder Treatment Among Older Women: Recommendations from Women with Lived Experience

    Speaker: Lisa Kilpela, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – UT Health San Antonio

    Co-author: Enya Vroom, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – UT Health San Antonio

    Co-author: Salome Wilfred, MA – UNC

    Co-author: Savannah C. Hooper, B.A. – The University of Louisville

    Co-author: Victoria B. Marshall, B.A. – University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

  • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST
    (SYM 18) Hypervisible in Society, Invisible in Eating Disorder Research: Assessment and Treatment Considerations for Arab/mena American Women

    Speaker: Maria A. Kalantzis, B.S., M.A. (she/her/hers) – Bowling Green State University

    Co-author: Abby Braden, Ph.D. – Bowling Green State University

  • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST
    (SYM 18) A Qualitative Investigation of Disordered Eating Among College Students Experiencing Food Insecurity

    Speaker: Jacqueline A. Kosmas, M.A. (she/her/hers) – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

    Co-author: Anna Gabrielle G. Patarinski, B.S. – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

    Co-author: Kendall B. Holloway, M.S.Ed, LPC – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

    Co-author: Heather A. Davis, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

  • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST
    (SYM 18) Examining Associations Among Access to Eating Disorder Care, Outcomes, and Childhood Neighborhood Opportunity

    Speaker: Pascal Beckert-McGirr, B.A. (he/him/his) – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

    Co-author: Samantha Turner, Ph.D., RN – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

    Co-author: William A. Brake, B.A. – The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

    Co-author: Grace Haase, B.A. (she/her/hers) – Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

    Co-author: Marita Cooper, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

    Co-author: C.Alix Timko, PhD – Children's Hospital of Philadelphia