Objective: In 2015, the Academy for Eating Disorders collaborated with international patient, advocacy, and parent organizations to craft the 'Nine Truths About Eating Disorders'. This document has been translated into over 30 languages and has been distributed globally to replace outdated and erroneous stereotypes about eating disorders with factual information. In this paper, we review the state of the science supporting the 'Nine Truths'.
Methods: The literature supporting each of the 'Nine Truths' was reviewed, summarized and richly annotated.
Results: Most of the 'Nine Truths' arise from well-established foundations in the scientific literature. Additional evidence is required to further substantiate some of the assertions in the document. Future investigations are needed in all areas to deepen our understanding of eating disorders, their causes and their treatments.
Conclusions: The 'Nine Truths About Eating Disorders' is a guiding document to accelerate global dissemination of accurate and evidence-informed information about eating disorders. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Keywords: anorexia nervosa; binge eating disorder; bulimia nervosa; environment; genetics; medical; mortality.
Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.