Journal article
The Unmet Treatment Need for Eating Disorders: What Has Changed in More Than 10 Years? An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
International Journal of Eating Disorders, Vol.58(1), pp.46-65
2025
PMID: 39482805
Abstract
Objective
A minority of individuals with eating disorders seek help from health professionals qualified to provide eating disorder care. This review assessed the proportion of individuals with eating disorders who had sought help or received treatment, as an update to an earlier review conducted more than a decade ago.
Method
Three databases were searched for studies that: (1) included a community sample of help-seekers and non-help seekers, (2) used a standardized eating disorder screening instrument, and (3) assessed the percentage of participants who had sought help specifically for eating disorder concerns.
Results
Of 972 articles, 21 studies met inclusion criteria, representing 37,423 participants. The pooled proportion reporting help-seeking from any source (e.g., helpline, support groups, chat rooms as well as health professionals) was 30% and the pooled proportion reporting formal treatment seeking from health professionals (e.g., psychologist) specifically for eating disorder concerns was 32%. However, there was evidence of publication bias across studies.
Discussion
These rates suggest little to no improvement in the unmet need for treatment since the last review with studies continuing to focus on white adult women. Help-seeking rates among other populations remain unclear and there is an urgent need to understand reasons for overall low help-seeking rates. Clear definitions and measures of help-seeking with appropriate distinctions between sources of help are needed to improve our understanding of help-seeking pathways and identify solutions to facilitate help-seeking. Better visibility of health professionals qualified to provide safe and effective eating disorder care could help reduce the substantial treatment gap.
Details
- Title
- The Unmet Treatment Need for Eating Disorders: What Has Changed in More Than 10 Years? An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Authors
- Kathina Ali (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - PsychologyMarcela Radunz - Flinders UniversitySiân A McLean - La Trobe UniversityAnne O'Shea - Flinders UniversityTeri Mavrangelos - Flinders UniversityDaniel B Fassnacht - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - PsychologyLaura Hart - University of Melbourne
- Publication details
- International Journal of Eating Disorders, Vol.58(1), pp.46-65
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1002/eat.24306
- ISSN
- 1098-108X
- PMID
- 39482805
- Data Availability
- The data that support the findings of this study are available on https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/cfnz8.
- Grant note
- Australia Education Management Group (AEMG) VESKI Fellowship Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Psychology
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991068684402621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
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