‘Community’ marks the theme of the 2026 Eating Disorder awareness week. With that in mind, we will host a research conference exploring the topic of eating disorders across diverse groups and settings, extending from those who experience this mental illness in childhood to those minority groups whose experiences are often overlooked and under-researched. St John of God services have observed a dramatic rise in the cases of eating disorders since the Covid-19 pandemic and this year we will dedicate our annual research conference (now in its 36th year) to this topic. The conference, which incorporates PPI from the outset, will take a closer look at the understanding of eating disorders, advancing research and equity in eating disorder treatment across our diverse populations. We will learn about the changing profile of the disorder and its exponential growth since Covid. We will hear from researchers and clinicians working across the fields of youth and adult mental health, alongside expert insights into eating disorders amongst people with intellectual disabilities. We will learn about research findings and how these will be actioned to address the rise in numbers of the population with eating disorders over the last ten years. Against the backdrop of a growing challenge, we will hear a message of hope from those who will share their lived experience, treatment and recovery. With contributions from other organisations, we will consider how we can embed research in our services to better respond to the challenge of eating disorders.
