Disabilities and eating disorders: A theoretical model and call for research

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Disability Studies
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Eating disorders (EDs) and disabilities frequently co-occur, yet research on their intersection is scarce.
• Existing frameworks for understanding disability are limited in addressing the complexities of EDs.
• There is an urgent need to explore the unique challenges faced by individuals with disabilities regarding EDs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical need for research on the relationships between disability status and EDs.
• To describe existing disability conceptualization frameworks.
• To propose a novel theoretical model for ED/disability relationships, incorporating individual and sociocultural factors.
• To identify future research directions in this understudied area.

Main Methods:

• Literature review to identify existing disability frameworks.
• Development of a novel multidimensional theoretical model.
• Analysis of individual factors (e.g., disability visibility, food access, self-identification).
• Analysis of sociocultural factors (e.g., ableism, weight stigma).

Main Results:

• A multidimensional theoretical model is proposed to explain the complex interplay between EDs and disabilities.
• Individual factors such as disability visibility, food access, and self-identification significantly influence these relationships.
• Sociocultural factors, including ableism, discrimination, and weight stigma, are identified as key determinants.

Conclusions:

• Scholars are urged to empirically test the proposed model using participatory and mixed-methods research.
• ED prevention, screening, treatment access, and efficacy require specific evaluation for disabled populations.
• Routine collection of disability data in ED studies and validation/development of ED measures for disabled individuals are essential.