Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what research is being undertaken into the most effective ways of supporting those with eating disorders.

The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including eating disorders.

Through the NIHR, the Department jointly funds the Eating Disorders Clinical Research Network, an initiative to build a coordinated, United Kingdom wide research infrastructure that strengthens evidence, improves care, and accelerates high‑quality studies across eating‑disorder services. Other projects recently funded by the NIHR include an investigation into how restrictive practices are used in the care of children and young people with eating disorders, with a focus on co‑produced solutions to reduce their use and improve patient experience.