Practical Responses to Eating Disorders: A Guide to Implementing Responses to Eating Disorders in General Health Services (2014)

This document was developed in 2014 and contains information and research that is no longer current. In some instances, the language and descriptions used do not reflect current evidence, views or values about body image, disordered eating, eating disorders and the system of care. We ask that you are thoughtful in your application of this information, refrain from using outdated language and concepts when referring to this work, and access more up to date information via our Resources and Research pages.

Implementation translates evidence into practice. The NEDC has developed a suite of evidence informed reports and resources that together outline evidence from research, clinical expertise and lived experience of eating disorders. This Implementation Guide explores the practical first steps required to translate that evidence into accessible and effective services for people with eating disorders. It is intended for use by people with an interest in planning, evaluating or developing services for people with eating disorders.

This report focuses on the exploration stage and the core competencies and organizational systems required to deliver a cost effective response for people with eating disorders. Core competencies for
individual practitioners are outlined in the NEDC Workforce Development Blueprint and service development consultation papers, therefore the focus of this report is primarily on the steps that health systems and service providers can take to implement new approaches to eating disorders. The optimal approach to reducing the impact of eating disorders on individuals, their families, the health system and the wider community, would be the adoption of the national standards schema principles within a full continuum of care (see page 11 of this report for an outline of the standards schema and Appendix 2: Implementing Treatment Standards for a full version of the National Standards Schema).

This report suggests some practical first steps towards this goal that have the potential to deliver immediate short term benefits and create a sound foundation for future development of responses to eating disorders in Australia.