Recovery from disordered eating: what life histories reveal

There are few studies seeking to understand the illness from the experiential perspective of a person who has recovered from an eating disorder. The clinical and research literature shows inconsistencies and varying degrees of support for the risk factors associated with eating disordered behaviour. It is important to note, however, that most contemporary research relies upon brief self-report questionnaires, which may be providing a fragmented picture of the behaviour. The focus of the current study is to gain a greater understanding of women's perceptions of developing, living with and recovering from an eating disorder. This study reports interviews with five former eating disorder sufferers who were recruited via an advertisement placed in an Eating Disorders Support Network newsletter. Life histories were gathered from each woman and the paper reports how these women perceive the origins of their illness and what event(s) lead to their recovery. Participants' narratives were analysed to elucidate themes pertaining to the lived experience of illness and recovery. The women talk about a lack of control of their lives and unrealistic family expectations as reasons for the development of their eating disordered behaviour. Recovery was very strongly related to self-determination and self-acceptance. Suggestions concerning new ways of conceptualising recovery from eating disordered behaviour are posited.