Northumbria University health and
cyber psychologist Dr Dawn Branley-Bell has been awarded a Medical Research
Foundation Fellowship – one of four projects supported by £1.1 million of new funding
to tackle eating disorders and self-harm.
A new project led by Research Innovation Fellow Dr Dawn Branley-Bell from Northumbria University’s Department of Psychology will
explore what we can learn about the causes, prevention and future treatment of
eating disorders following the rapid transition to remote care during the Covid-19
pandemic.
Approximately 1.25 million
people in the UK have an eating disorder. Recent research by Dr Branley-Bell suggests that many individuals with eating disorders have
experienced worsened symptoms during the Covid-19 pandemic, and reported
concerns around the suitability of healthcare delivered remotely.
Such concerns included, for example, individuals seeing themselves
more often on video calls, giving more opportunities to be self-critical of
their appearance, or being asked to weigh themselves at home.
Building on her previous research, Dr Branley-Bell will now work
alongside people with lived experience of eating disorders, healthcare
providers, eating disorder charities, technology designers and other experts in
the field to identify why symptoms worsened during the pandemic and to explore
the challenges experienced with remote treatment.
The project will also look at how technology can be improved to
increase the efficacy and security of remote eating disorder treatment. Dr
Branley-Bell will work closely with people with lived experiences of eating
disorders to ultimately co-design new technology and recommendations for how it
should be used going forward.
Commenting on her Fellowship, Dr Dawn
Branley-Bell said: “Even after Covid-19 is under control, there
remains many other situations which prevent individuals from accessing
face-to-face treatment. Remote care can ensure access to vital help and
support. By learning from experiences during the pandemic, this research will
help to improve our understanding of eating disorders and inform future
healthcare, technology design, guidance and policy.”
Dr Angela Hind, Chief Executive at the
Medical Research Foundation, said: “Before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, eating
disorders were already affecting increasing numbers of young people. Today the
need for new research insight is even greater, as it’s been an immensely
challenging year for many young people with these devastating conditions.
“We’re excited to see what Dr
Branley-Bell’s project uncovers about the impact of remote healthcare for
eating disorders. These findings will be crucial as we begin to emerge from the
pandemic, and will also help to guide treatment of eating disorders long into
the future.”
The MedicalResearch Foundation scheme provides postdoctoral
researchers the opportunity to start independent, internationally competitive
research careers in the field of eating disorders and self-harm.
This
research project, and the Medical Research Foundation’s previous investments
in eating disorders and self-harm research, have been made
possible by a gift in Will from Catherine Evans.
Help the Medical Research
Foundation continue to support much-needed research into eating disorders and
self-harm, by joining their team of walkers for the Thames Bridges Trek on 11
September 2021. Find out more on their website.
If you’re worried about your own or someone
else’s health, you can contact Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity, on 0808
801 0677 or beateatingdisorders.org.uk
