​​The STORY Study: Stages, progression, and recovery of eating disorders in young people​

Summary

​​Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that can affect anyone. Recovering from eating disorders can be a long journey with twists and turns in the road, but what circumstances keep people ill or help them to get better isn’t fully clear. What exactly does recovery from an eating disorder look like, and what factors can help or hinder this process?

​To answer this, we invite all people aged 16-25 who have an eating disorder or think they may have one to take part in our study, “STORY”. Participants would take part for one year and complete regular questionnaires and tasks on their computer or smartphone. Passive data about participants’ environment is collected using common smartphone sensors, such as Bluetooth connections. Participants also have the option to wear an Ōura smart ring for the year to measure physical indicators of mood and stress in their daily lives (like heart rate or sleep). All data will be encrypted and anonymised, and participants will not be able to see the measured data. Participants close to London and Edinburgh also have the option to take part in additional in-person assessments, like an eye-tracking task.

​To better understand how and why people get better and how recovery trajectories may differ, we would like to include people of all genders, from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. We believe that the NIHR BioResource will help us reach people who might otherwise be missed.

​Exploring many different paths to recovery and the factors that affect these will eventually lead to more effective treatment tailored to a person’s situation. By spreading awareness and learning more about eating disorders, we hope to spot them earlier and encourage people to seek help sooner. This should ultimately help people to recover faster and reduce the chances of long-term illness or other problems.​