The Australian Government will provide $5 million towards two research projects that will apply digital solutions for the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of eating disorders in Australia.
The projects will be funded through the Medical Research Futures Fund as part of the $125 million Million Minds Mission. The funding includes:
$3.67 million for a project led by Dr Sarah Maguire at the University of Sydney's InsideOut Institute. The project will establish the MAINSTREAM Centre for Health System Research & Translation in Eating Disorders, which will develop a system-focussed approach for detecting and treating eating disorders.
The research will have four key strategies including nationwide ongoing data collection, a national lived experience survey, and the development of new, scalable methods of care for health settings which focus on early detection and treatment.
According to Dr Maguire, eating disorders have an unacceptable high death rated but can be cured. At present, however, there are no avenues to efficiently track the experience of people from the point of them presenting to the health system.
While there is increased investment in the treatment of eating disorders, there is a need for rigorous evaluation to ensure desired health outcomes, Dr Maguire says.
$1.34 million for a project led by Associated Professor Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz from Deakin University. The project will leverage digital technology to reduce the occurrence and severity of eating disorders in Australia.
The project will include the development of web and app based interventions targeting two vulnerable groups, young adults and gay men.
According to Professor Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, only a quarter of people who experienced eating disorders sought help. “We want to overcome some of the barriers by meeting people where they are.”
A third stream of the project will be the development of algorithms based on information from social media platforms, with the aim to better understand this conversation, and to then offer positive messages about ways to combat the disorder.
