UK Eating Disorder services are facing unprecedented demand, with effective service delivery hampered by inadequate resources, fragmented services and variable care pathways. Individuals with eating disorders, families and clinicians all agree on the critical need to improve care pathways and treatment, leading to better outcomes.

Eating disorders are serious, complex conditions influenced by a blend of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. The approach of this project is grounded in the "biopsychosocial" model. Recently, anorexia research confirms a genetic component, with biological, metabolic, and psychological mechanisms at play. Further biological research across eating disorders could allow a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying eating disorder development and better, more personalised treatments.

This project will test the feasibility of establishing a UK-wide NHS research network spanning child and adult eating disorder services to enable a step change in the ability to conduct eating disorder research. It will help address fragmentation and facilitate novel biological, psychological, and social research collaborations. The data the investigators gather will be open to all researchers for data analyses, and the collaborations established will form a collaborative network to enable future clinical trials, experimental medicine and psychology.

The study will be conducted at child and adult eating disorder services who opt to join the Network. Participants will be patients receiving treatment for an eating disorder at one of the participating services, and their parents/guardians if applicable.

Participants will complete questionnaires and have blood and other physical tests as specified in the EDCRN dataset. The study will last until 29th October 2026 (the end of the current funding period) and/or when a participant is discharged from treatment, whichever is sooner. For participants discharged before the study ends, there will be an opportunity for patients to complete optional follow-up questionnaires on a periodic basis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder under at least 1 of the criteria specified in the DSM-5 and/or ICD-9, 10 or 11.
• Patients who are receiving treatment as inpatients, day-patients or outpatients at a CAMHS or Adult service who is participating in the EDCRN.
• Patients who are receiving treatment in the UK.

OR:

• Parents/guardians of patients who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder under at least 1 of the criteria specified in the DSM-5 and/or ICD-9, 10 or 11.
• Parents/guardians of patients who are receiving treatment as inpatients, day-patients or outpatients at a CAMHS or Adult service who is participating in the EDCRN.
• Parents/guardians of patients who are receiving treatment in the UK.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who do not meet the criteria specified above will be considered ineligible to participate in the EDCRN.

The study population are individuals who are receiving treatment for an eating disorder(s) at a UK-based eating disorder service which is part of the EDCRN and (if desired by the patient and caregiver) their parents/guardians.