New guidelines for eating disorder care: 'Much about increasing knowledge'

In Sweden, the National Board of Health and Welfare estimates that there are approximately 200,000 people with some form of eating disorder. It is also believed that there is significant underreporting because many people do not seek care.

– It is important that more people receive care but for different types of eating disorders, says Elizabeth Edem, a researcher at the National Council for Health and Social Care.

Now produced by the National Board of Health and Social Care 38 different guidelines Which should increase knowledge about the form of the disease.

– It is about disseminating the best available knowledge on a selected set of questions. It's not comprehensive but we have 38 recommendations and they cover several different types of eating disorders.

“Maybe you're looking for something else.”

The guidelines now being issued are primarily aimed at decision makers working in resource planning.

By the end of the year, Social Services plans to release an updated version that includes recommendations for health care professionals.

– One question that comes up a lot is about increasing the knowledge of people who meet people who may have an eating disorder in the first stage. This could be anything from pediatric health care to specialty care. You may be looking for something else, such as stomach problems or anxiety, and eating disorders may not be the first thing that comes to mind because they are not visible from the outside.

Healthy and Free: Need more resources

Frederika Sandel, Secretary General of the National Association Frisk och Fri, was involved in drawing up the new guidelines, and believes that many say they want more individually adapted care and more psychotherapy.

-Based on what we hear, a lot has to do with managing and treating symptoms. What she wants more help with is dealing with the underlying cause of the eating disorder, she continues:

-With more knowledge, I hope you will understand that you need to pay to get more resources.