Broad considerations for improving eating disorder care: a lived experience and quality improvement perspective

Abstract

Improvements to eating disorder (ED) care are urgently needed in the United Kingdom (UK) and internationally. This solution-focused article suggests ways to improve individuals’ access to and experiences of ED care. It is the second paper in a two-part series that has been informed by my lived experiences of having a longstanding ED, voluntary involvement in quality improvement for the National Health Service (NHS), and international research. In the preceding article, titled “Improving eating disorder care for underserved groups: a lived experience and quality improvement perspective” (Asaria in J Eat Disord 13(1):11, 2025), I identified 12 groups of individuals with lived experiences whom I believe are more likely to be underserved in ED care. In the present paper, broader problems experienced by ED sufferers and ED caregivers/loved ones as a whole are considered, as they are generally an underserved group in mental health care. These broad problems relate to 10 overlapping domains of ED care that I have identified as being in need of improvement – they are referred to as ‘broad considerations’ (BCs). Each BC has a dedicated section that may be read independently for readers’ convenience. The BCs are as follows: [BC. 1] Awareness, stigma, and prevention; [BC. 2] Research and lived experience involvement; [BC. 3] Clinical monitoring; [BC. 4] Diagnosing, formulating, and care planning; [BC. 5] Rapid/early interventions; [BC. 6] Treatments (excluding rapid/early interventions); [BC. 7] Service transitions and community care; [BC. 8] Clinical education/training; [BC. 9] Systemic considerations; [BC. 10] Funding and resources. In addition to discussing these BCs, I advocate a humanistic care model based on the inexpensive principles of Compassion, Hope, Empathy, Appreciation (of identity), and Patience (CHEAP). I suggest that even under-resourced healthcare providers can afford to provide CHEAP care if they care enough and try hard enough.