“Welcomed as I am, not as I am expected to be”: towards development of peer support for Autistic people with Eating Disorders

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Sader, M., Llowarch, N., Gerlof, J., Emmerson, F., Maloney, E., Duffy, F., & Gillespie‐Smith, K. (2026). “Welcomed as I am, not as I am expected to be”: towards development of peer support for Autistic people with Eating Disorders. Eating Disorders, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2026.2691121

Publication date: 6 Jul 2026 Added to AutiHub: 8 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
7
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 7 (14.3%)
  1. Michelle Sader
  2. Nicola Llowarch
  3. Jill Gerlof
  4. Fiona Emmerson
  1. Ellen Maloney *
  2. Fiona Duffy
  3. Karri Gillespie‐Smith

Abstract

Autistic people with eating disorders (ED) report different experiences and needs for ED treatment with a need to expand what existing support looks like. This qualitative study seeks to investigate the perspectives of Autistic people to examine whether peer support may play a role in ED recovery. Twenty-five Autistic adults with experience of EDs completed a survey enquiring about peer support for their community. Survey answers were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to generate emerging themes surrounding the perspectives and views towards bespoke peer support. Four identified themes encompass the importance and purpose of peer support for Autistic people with an ED: 1) Peer support to validate the unique considerations for Autistic people with an ED; 2) The importance of peer support to build a positive Autistic identity; 3) 'Welcomed as I am, not as I am expected to be": Autistic people's hopes for peer support; 4) Where peer support may harm rather than help. This study is the first to establish community-led views towards the importance and purpose underlying peer support for Autistic adults with an ED. Generated themes can serve as an evidence base for future autism-affirming peer support for ED recovery.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
40
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
10 / 40 (25.0%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
13 / 191 (6.8%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 13 / 101 (12.9%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 9 / 151 (6.0%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
101 / 191 (52.9%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 63 / 151 (41.7%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
88 / 101 (87.1%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 88 / 191 (46.1%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 54 / 63 (85.7%).
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