Historic $13m National Eating Disorder Centre to be unveiled

Advances in treatment not seen in decades are the aim of the bright minds at Australia’s brand new National Eating Disorder Centre.

The shocking mortality rates and poor recovery outcomes for many of the more than one million Australians with eating disorders will be tackled head-on through a historic new Sydney-based research centre.

The federal government will on Saturday unveil the $13 million National Eating Disorder Centre, which brings together Australia’s best researchers lead by the University of Sydney’s InsideOut Institute.

The centre will investigate new clinical practices, treatments and policies to improve early intervention and recovery rates for disorders like anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.

InsideOut Institute director Dr Sarah Maguire said about five per cent of Australians suffered with eating disorders, including young children and the elderly, but despite this widespread impact there had been a “distinct lack” of funding into research until now.

InsideOut Institute director Dr Sarah Maguire says the new centre could make advances in mental health treatment not seen in decades.

“For 25 years there have only been two major treatments – cognitive-behaviour therapy and family-behaviour therapy – and its estimated they only help about 50 per cent of people,” she said.

Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest mortality rates among mental illnesses and affects nine times as many women as men, while binge eating is more common across the board.

Dr Maguire said the new centre aimed to increase the amount of studies, number of people working in the field and forge new teams to drive innovative research after decades without any major advances.

New research from InsideOut found the Covid-19 pandemic had caused increases in all eating disorders and disruptions to treatment due to strain on the health system.

Dr Maguire said the Centre had chosen three areas for breakthroughs: identifying reliable early risk factors such as biological and psychological causes of eating disorders, developing “very early interventions” for those most at risk and funding research into "individualised" treatments instead of the current “cookie cutter” approach.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the new research centre would find innovative ways to care for patients, as well as improve prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery rates.

“There is evidence that early intervention into eating disorders can reduce the duration of the illness and improve outcomes for patients,” he said.

“It is possible for many people to make a full recovery if they get the right treatment at the right time.”

Assistant Minister David Coleman says the research centre will improve the lives of those with eating disorders and their support networks. Picture: Damian Shaw

Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention David Coleman said the centre would combat the “tragically high mortality rates” among people with eating disorders seen globally.

“By working with researchers, clinicians, consumers and carers – locally and internationally – the new research centre will … ultimately improve the quality of life for all Australians with eating disorders, their families, supporters and carers,” he said.

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