Towards a science of eating disorders: Replacing myths with realities: The fourth Birgit Olsson lecture

Abstract

Background: For too long we have been “stuck” in old perspectives that have hampered the advance of knowledge. In part, this is related to the challenges that people have in unlearning misinformation. Aim: To address the need for an upgrade in the eating disorders field. Method: To assist with replacing outdated and inaccurate ideas with new data, this lecture reviewed novel approaches to eating disorders that engage scientists and clinicians from diverse fields to approach questions about aetiology and treatment of eating disorders through new lenses. This forward-looking lecture outlined critical questions that need to be addressed to move the field forward and strategies for engaging scientists from different fields. Results: Leading-edge findings on genetics, intestinal microbiota, and neuroscience are reviewed. Conclusions: This review encourages the integration of new evidence-based knowledge to form the backbone of our understanding of and approach to eating disorders.

Abstract:

• Anorexia nervosa
• binge eating disorder
• bulimia nervosa
• genetics
• microbiota
• neurobiology

Disclosure of interest

The author is grant recipient from Shire.