No Cover Image

Journal article 116 views 19 downloads

Exploring recovery from anorexia in autistic adults: a qualitative study

Abigail McIntosh, Rachael Hunter

BMJ Open, Volume: 16, Issue: 1, Start page: e111034

Swansea University Author: Abigail McIntosh

  • 71189.VOR.pdf

    PDF | Version of Record

    © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported (CC BY 4.0) license.

    Download (296.05KB)

Check full text

DOI (Published version): 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-111034

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the barriers and facilitators of anorexia nervosa (AN) recovery in adults with autism. Design: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with autistic adults who identified as being in recovery or having recovered from AN. Setting: Participants were recruited via adve...

Full description

Published in: BMJ Open
ISSN: 2044-6055 2044-6055
Published: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2026
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71189
Abstract: Objectives: To examine the barriers and facilitators of anorexia nervosa (AN) recovery in adults with autism. Design: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with autistic adults who identified as being in recovery or having recovered from AN. Setting: Participants were recruited via advertisements on social media and an eating disorder (ED) forum. Online Zoom interviews with 12 participants were conducted from October to November 2023. Participants: Overall, 12 autistic adults who identified as being in recovery or recovered from AN were included (11 women and 1 man; aged between 18–50 years). Results: Four key themes were identified: ‘Sensory Experiences’, ‘Recovery in progress’, ‘Changing to healthy mindsets’ and ‘Engaging with treatment’. Results indicated that recovery for participants did not follow a linear path, with the role of autistic traits, such as sensory sensitivities, interoception and the internal voice, making recovery challenging. Conclusion: This study provides insight into the challenges and motivations experienced during the recovery process. Findings highlight the need for further research to improve guidelines and autism awareness in ED services.
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Funders: Swansea University
Issue: 1
Start Page: e111034

Similar Items