The challenges of eating out for young people with eating disorders: a thematic analysis of the perspectives of young people, parents and carers, and clinicians.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Social eating is a key aspect of recovery for many individuals with an Eating Disorder (ED). To develop effective interventions to support recovery of social eating we need to understand the challenges that people with ED face when eating in public spaces. This study was conducted in the context of the development of a virtual reality graded-exposure café intervention for people with ED. The current analysis explores stakeholder perspectives on the challenges that people with ED face in café environments.

Methods

People with lived experience of ED (n = 15), parents/carers (n = 4) and clinicians (n = 6) took part in semi-structured focus groups and 1:1 interviews. Transcripts were analysed thematically.

Results

We identified six major themes: (1) Facing the

SUBMITTER: Shackshaft L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12821942 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature