Science for Society: An Interdisciplinary Perspective on Eating Disorders
Eating disorders (EDs) are rooted in a variety of biological and psychosocial factors, but they have distinctive causes and harms within specific demographic groups. Three psychological researchers offered a range of perspectives on EDs in a July 17 APS webinar.
Jennifer Webb, from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, shared findings on the role that mindful self-care and yoga can play in protecting Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), and pregnant women from disordered eating.
Zachary Souillard, a clinical psychologist and researcher at Miami University, discussed research revealing the specific social factors that can drive eating disorders in LGBTQ+ communities.
And Jaclyn Siegel, a research scientist at the University of Chicago, discussed emerging research showing effective ways for individuals to help and support a romantic partner struggling with an eating disorder.
Speakers
Jaclyn Siegel
NORC at the University of ChicagoJaclyn Siegel is a Research Scientist in the Department of Public Health at NORC at the University of Chicago. She received her PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Western Ontario. Her research interests include eating disorders, body image, gender, and sexuality.
Jennifer Webb
University of North Carolina at CharlotteJennifer Webb is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Science and the Health Psychology Ph.D. Program at UNC Charlotte. She is a clinical health psychologist whose research program is informed by a non-dieting, weight-neutral philosophy on advancing wellness equity in culturally- and body-diverse groups. Her research emphasizes enhancing the integration, dissemination, and accessibility of evidence-based mind-body approaches (e.g., yoga, self-compassion, mindful and intuitive eating, mindful self-care, etc.) to strengthen embodied self-regulation, positive body image, and well-being among women during the developmental transitions of adolescence, young adulthood, pregnancy, and the postpartum.
Zach Soulliard
Miami University in OhioZach Soulliard is an assistant professor and director of the Body Image and Stigma among Queer Populations (BISQue) Lab at Miami University in Ohio. He received his PhD in clinical psychology from Saint Louis University and is a licensed psychologist. His research aims to examine stigma-based mechanisms that contribute to the elevated rates of body image concerns and eating disorders among LGBTQ+ people.
