A call for autism‐led research exploring definitions of recovery in Autistic individuals with an eating disorder

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Nimbley, E., Maloney, E., & Duffy, F. (2023). A call for autism‐led research exploring definitions of recovery in Autistic individuals with an eating disorder. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 56(7), 1335-1340. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23953

Publication date: 12 Apr 2023 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
3
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 3 (33.3%)
  1. Emy Nimbley
  2. Ellen Maloney *
  3. Fiona Duffy

Abstract

RESEARCH GAP: It is now established that definitions of recovery in eating disorders (EDs) should be informed by the lived/living experience of individuals and consider a broad range of physical, behavioral, and psychological factors. Autism is a common co-occurring condition in EDs reflecting unique needs and experiences; however, very little research to date has explored definitions of recovery from EDs in Autistic populations. The current article will briefly review what we know about autism and EDs, before addressing how we can apply and extend what we know about broader ED recovery research to the unique needs of Autistic individuals with ED. SUGGESTED APPROACH: We propose that future studies are urgently required exploring definitions and conceptualizations of recovery in Autistic individuals with EDs, rooted in autism-led, participatory research approaches and incorporating physical, behavioral, and psychological factors. DISCUSSION: Benefits and possible obstacles of implementing the proposed approach are discussed, before the authors outline specific suggestions for participatory designs and targets for future studies. Multidimensional and mixed method approaches to ED recovery will work toward integrating clinically measurable outcomes with lived/living experience perspectives. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: EDs are common in Autistic individuals, however, very little is known about definitions of ED recovery in this population. Cross-disciplinary, research-driven definitions involving lived/living experience at all stages of the research process will generate meaningful and translational research.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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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
42
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
4 / 42 (9.5%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
7 / 204 (3.4%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 7 / 40 (17.5%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 5 / 183 (2.7%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
40 / 204 (19.6%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 27 / 183 (14.8%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
33 / 40 (82.5%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 33 / 204 (16.2%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 22 / 27 (81.5%).
6 cited bibliography entries could not be fully enriched from DOI metadata.
Crossref: not found (3) · DataCite: not found (3)
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