EDIT (Eating Disorders in weight-related Therapy) is a new program to study the possibility that behavioral weight management for obesity may also trigger the development of eating disorders. Natalie B. Lister MD, and colleagues recently announced the EDIT study and its aims in the journal Nutrition Research Reviews (2024.37:320). The authors note that despite misconceptions that eating disorders are diseases of individuals with lower-than-normal body weight, the prevalence of eating disorders is higher in both men and women with obesity compared to their healthy-weight peers.
The authors hypothesize that a subset of individuals who undergo treatment for obesity will have varying risks of developing eating disorders according to their personal characteristics and the intervention strategies available to them. The EDIT Collaboration will bring together clinicians, researchers, biostatisticians, and individuals with lived experience from around the world to improve treatment for people affected by obesity and eating disorders.
Janice Goldschmidt
Has worked with individuals with IDD for the last decade, and written and presented her work in a range of professional formats. She received her Master’s degree in Nutrition from the University of Maryland-College Park, where she initially developed her program for development of food preparation skills, Active Engagement. As Director of Nutrition Services at Community Support Services, Inc. (Gaithersburg, MD), she has continued to build on Active Engagement, which now includes many differing contexts for guiding individuals with IDD and autism to independent cooking skills. She has also worked on the identification, classification, and treatment of eating disorders for this population.