Eating Disorder Awareness Week serves as a crucial campaign aimed to educate individuals about the realities of eating disorders and the major impact on the daily lives of those
affected by them. With a notable surge in calls to the National Eating Disorders Association, totalling a remarkable increase of 70-80% over the past year, and the NHS reporting a record high number of young people undergoing treatment for eating disorders, the urgency to address this situation cannot be overstated.
What are they?
Eating disorders manifest in various forms, including restrictive eating, binge eating, and avoidant eating. They can affect any individual at any stage of life, with the average onset occurring during adolescence and early adulthood. These disorders entail unhealthy and obsessive behaviours and thoughts related to food, weight, and body shape. They are among the deadliest mental health conditions and have the highest mortality rates among psychiatric disorders. In the UK alone, between 1.25 and 3.4 million people are affected by them. Notably, eating disorders disproportionately impact women, constituting approximately 90% of cases, with a lifetime prevalence rate of 8.4% for women and 2.2% for men according to NICE.
What are the treatments?
Currently, there are various therapies available for treating eating disorders, with cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) being the most prevalent. CBT aims to reframe thought patterns to promote healthy eating habits and address underlying emotions and behaviours contributing to the disorder. Other forms of talk therapy delve into behaviour, reactions, and thought processes to uncover subconscious elements fuelling the disorder. Specific therapies include refeeding for restrictive disorders, focal psychodynamic therapy for anorexia, and medications such as antidepressants or antipsychotics, along with family-based treatment approaches. Remission rates are greatest for CBT at 66%, with other therapies at approximately 40%.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) shows promising results in the treatment of eating disorders. A systematic review of studies investigating the effects of TMS in bulimia nervosa (BN), anorexia nervosa (AN), other ED’s not otherwise specified (EDs-NOS), binge eating disorder and obesity demonstrated therapeutic effects (Cavicchioli et al 2022). Results indicated an improvement in primary outcomes for obesity, though no therapeutic effect for BN, AN and other EDs-NOS. The study found small therapeutic effects in secondary outcomes and a moderate effect on overall negative affectivity. Further research is warranted to clarify the therapeutic efficacy of TMS in the management of eating disorders. While existing studies suggest promising treatment outcomes, the current body of evidence is inconclusive, underscoring the necessity for more rigorous investigation. These preliminary findings serve as a foundation for advancing scientific inquiry and refining methodologies to attain comprehensive insights into the potential role of TMS in addressing eating disorders.
As someone who has been personally affected by eating disorders, this sits close to my heart. Through education and awareness, we aim to provide hope, support and visibility to those struggling. If you, or anyone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please get in contact with your GP or call a helpline.
England Helpline: 0808 801 0677 | help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Scotland Helpline: 0808 801 0432 | Scotlandhelp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Wales Helpline: 0808 801 0433 | Waleshelp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Northern Ireland Helpline: 0808 801 0434 | NIhelp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Written by Carmen Plevin BSc, MSc, Bristol TMS Practitioner at Smart TMS
References
1. ARFID. (n.d.). Beat. https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/about-eating-disorders/types/arfid/
2. Cavicchioli, M., Sarzetto, A., Erzegovesi, S., & Ogliari, A. (2022). Is Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (RTMS) a Promising Therapeutic Intervention for Eating Disorders and Obesity? Clinical Considerations Based on a Meta-Analytic Review. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 19(5), 314–327. https://doi.org/10.36131/cnfioritieditore20220507
3. CKS is only available in the UK. (n.d.). NICE. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/eating-disorders/background-information/prevalence/#:~:text=Eating%20disorders%3A%20How%20common%20is%20it%3F%201%20Estimates
4. Mind (2019). Types of talking therapy | Mind, the mental health charity – help for mental health problems. [online] Mind.org.uk. Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/talking-therapy-and-counselling/types-of-talking-therapy/.
5. NHS England» The NHS Talking Therapies manual. (n.d.). Www.england.nhs.uk. Retrieved February 26, 2024, from https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/the-improving-access-to-psychological-therapies-manual/https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/the-improving-access-to-psychological-therapies-manual/