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Updated: Feb 20, 2026

A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
Maximizing the public health impact of eating disorder services: A simulation study
Markus Moessner1, Stephanie Bauer1
1Center for Psychotherapy Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Objective:
Although effective interventions for eating disorders (ED) are available, the impact of health care services on a population level is far from satisfactory. A mathematical model of how health care for ED affects the population's disease burden can stimulate discussions and provide guidance about promising strategies to reduce ED-related suffering on the population level.
Method:
The current health care situation for ED is modeled taking into account the reach and effectiveness of prevention, treatment, and aftercare, as well as incidence rates, relapse rates, and rates for spontaneous remissions. A first-order Markov model is applied and the effect of changes in single service parameters on the populations overall disease burden are simulated.
Results:
Improvements of treatment utilization and the reach of prevention programs would have the largest effects on the population's disease burden. Improving the efficacy of treatment, prevention, and aftercare show only limited effects.
Discussion:
In order to maximize the public health impact of health care for ED new models of treatment delivery as well as public health approaches to the prevention of ED are critical.
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