There is a notable overlap between autism and eating disorders (EDs), and autistic individuals may experience poorer ED treatment outcomes than non-autistic peers. To make meaningful change in this field, it is imperative that we actively engage in co-production of research, however there are currently no guidelines to support co-production with autistic people with eating disorders. This paper reports on best practice guidelines that were co-produced across a series of workshops bringing together autistic people with EDs, researchers, clinicians, third-sector organisations, and parents/carers. The guidelines are intended to be used as a foundation for future co-produced autism and ED research. By creating a trusted, ethical co-production relationship, we hope to generate more clinically meaningful and translatable research.
There is increasing awareness of an overlap between autism and eating disorders and concerns around the effectiveness of eating disorder treatment for this populationThere is a lack of research with autistic individuals with eating disorders and a pressing need to prioritise meaningful co-produced researchClinical practice should be informed by autism-affirming eating disorder research.