Impact Review 2024-25: Eating Disorders HIT

The Eating Disorders Health Integration Team (ED HIT) is made up of people who have experienced eating difficulties or disorders, along with their families, friends, healthcare professionals, researchers, students, voluntary sector workers, and others. Their goal is to improve the lives of people affected by or at risk of eating disorders in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.

19th July 2025

Research conference

On 22 October 2024, ED HIT held its annual research conference, focusing on equality, diversity, and inclusion in eating disorders.

About 160 people attended online, including researchers, healthcare professionals, voluntary sector staff, students, and many people with personal experience of eating disorders.
The team was happy to see many returning attendees and participants from around the world, including Argentina, Australia, Germany, Spain, and the USA.

The event highlighted the needs of people living with eating disorders from underrepresented groups, especially those with autism, and from low-income backgrounds and Black communities.

Cultural views on food

Chandini Sree, a UWE research student, is studying disordered eating among Asian students who go to university in the UK. Her research is supervised by ED HIT co-director Christine Ramsey Wade.

Chandini shared her early findings through a dance performance with a voiceover at a diverse Research Engagement Network meeting in November 2024.

She also performed at ED HIT’s creative and mindfulness public involvement event in February 2025, organized by peer co-director Carolyn Trippick, which included a mindful mandala workshop.

Research Capability Funding

ED HIT co-directors Christine Ramsey Wade and Sanni Norweg submitted a successful BNSSG Research Capability Funding application. They were awarded supplementary funding to the previous budget, specifically to fund grant development activity.

Eating Disorder Support App – improving user experience

Our ED Support App evaluation findings (involving 16 members of the public) were shared with the App developer to improve future user experience, as well as enhance promotion. National charity Rethink are now signposting to our App via their ED advice and information webpage.