An eating disorder association took down its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot less than a week before it was set to replace its human-run helpline after discovering that it was giving “harmful” advice to users. The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), a nonprofit that supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders, said in a May 31…

Eating disorders have jumped during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study. Researchers looked at the numbers of inpatient admissions and outpatient visits for eating disorders such as bulimia and binge eating disorder before the pandemic started at 14 hospital-based sites that are part of the National Eating Disorder Quality Improvement Collaborative, and one…

Researchers from the University of Southern California (US) have found that children suffering from binge eating disorders (BED) have an increased proportion of grey matter densities indicative of abnormal brain development. “In children with binge eating disorder, we see abnormality in brain development in brain regions specifically linked to reward and impulsivity, or the ability to…

By the age of 16, Lara Rebecca from Wales was at the height of an eating disorder. She spent years in denial, while doctors feared for her health. Eventually, she was rushed to hospital emergency. Through an intensive recovery program, Lara survived—and thrived. Inspired by an urge to help others, the now-20-year-old became a fitness…

A student doctor whose studies were waylaid by a severe eating disorder is making her recovery story public. She has also returned to medical school to qualify as a doctor in the hopes of helping others. Sarah Rav, 22, migrated from Malaysia to Melbourne, Australia, at the age of 7. Detailing her story in a series of videos…