{
  "id": 18521295,
  "title": "New research identifies promising strategy to support eating disorder recovery for adults with autism",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/new-research-identifies-promising-strategy-to-support-eating-disorder",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-06T15:40:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-11-strategy-disorder-recovery-adults-autism.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A groundbreaking study led by researchers at the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh has uncovered a promising approach to support eating disorder recovery for adults on the autism spectrum. The research, published in the journal Eating Disorders, identified personalized, autism-affirming peer support as a potentially valuable tool in the recovery process.\n\nEating disorders affect autistic individuals at significantly higher rates than the general population, with around 27% experiencing symptoms compared to 3% of women and 0.4% of men. Autistic people often report poorer treatment experiences due to the unique ways in which eating disorders develop and are maintained in neurodivergent individuals, such as sensory differences around food, rigid routines, and using food and exercise to manage anxiety.\n\nTo explore the potential benefits and concerns of peer support, the Eating Disorders and Autism Collaborative (EDAC) consulted 25 autistic adults who had received eating disorder treatment. The participants unanimously praised peer support for its valuable impact on validation, connection, and building a positive autistic identity. One participant shared, \"Peer support was helpful to feel a sense of solidarity among peers with similar experiences, to share and listen to others about my and their experience, and feel heard and understood.\"\n\nCo-author Dr. Michelle Sader highlighted the importance of this finding, stating, \"Autistic individuals often experience trauma and isolation stemming from being misunderstood and marginalized, as well as being labeled as resistant to care due to their autistic characteristics. However, our study showed that peer support was considered essential, enabling a focus on the unique experiences associated with being autistic and having an eating disorder.\"\n\nThe research team, predominantly composed of autistic individuals, believes that this approach has significant potential to improve individuals' confidence, self-validation, and the overall eating disorder recovery process. They hope that these findings will encourage the development of more autism-affirming approaches within clinical settings, ultimately providing autistic people with the support they need to navigate their eating disorder recovery journey.",
  "summary": "In the first study of its kind, researchers from the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh worked with adults with autism who had received treatment for eating disorders. Participants viewed personalized, autism-affirming peer support, where people with shared lived experience support one another, as potentially valuable for recovery. The research is published in the journal…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}