Skip to main content

It’s not all about control: Challenging mainstream framing of eating disorders.

Branley-Bell, D., Talbot, C. V., Downs, J., Figueras, C., Green, J., McGilley, B. and Murphy-Morgan, C., 2023. It’s not all about control: Challenging mainstream framing of eating disorders. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11 (25).

Full text available as:

[img] PDF
Control Manuscript_FEB2023_final.pdf - Accepted Version
Restricted to Repository staff only
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.

742kB
[img]
Preview
PDF
s40337-023-00752-9.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.

1MB

DOI: 10.1186/s40337-023-00752-9

Abstract

Background: The concept of control has long been suggested as a central factor in eating disorder (ED) aetiology. The concept is now so mainstream that it risks being used in a potentially reductionist, stigmatising or otherwise harmful manner. In this paper, we explore and discuss our positions on the use of control-related terminology for EDs. Methods: The authors of this auto-ethnographic position paper include academic researchers, individuals with lived experience and clinicians (not mutually exclusive). In sharing our experiences and observations, we aim to raise awareness of the wider impacts that control framing can have on ED perceptions, treatment, recovery and individuals’ lived experience. Results: We argue that although control can play a role in some ED experiences, an overemphasis upon this factor to the exclusion of other conceptualisations is not beneficial. Conclusions: To mitigate against pathologisation of an individual, it is important to challenge a discourse that can lead to EDs being perceived as something ‘wrong’ with the individual, rather than a consequence of life events or other environmental influences. We identify priorities for the future for researchers, clinicians, policy makers and the wider public.

Item Type:Article
ISSN:2050-2974
Uncontrolled Keywords:Eating disorders;Control;Healthcare;Stigma;Anorexia;nervosa;Bulimia;Discourse
Group:Faculty of Science & Technology
ID Code:38281
Deposited By: Symplectic RT2
Deposited On:08 Mar 2023 10:18
Last Modified:08 Mar 2023 10:18

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

More statistics for this item...
Repository Staff Only -