# What Is Known About Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating in Individuals With Physical Disabilities? A Narrative Review

## TL;DR

This review explores how individuals with physical disabilities may be at higher risk for eating disorders and body image issues, highlighting the need for more research and specialized care.

## Contribution

The paper identifies unique risk factors and gaps in research for eating disorders in individuals with physical disabilities.

## Key findings

- Individuals with physical disabilities face unique risk factors like body image issues and social stigma that increase vulnerability to eating disorders.
- Current research on eating disorders in this population is limited, especially for specific disability subgroups.
- ED/DE in individuals with physical disabilities are often overlooked in clinical settings, requiring specialized training and interventions.

## Abstract

Individuals with physical disabilities may be at a high risk for developing eating disorders/disordered eating (ED/DE) and body image concerns yet are often excluded from research in this field. This has created a critical gap in our understanding of eating patterns and body image concerns among individuals with disabilities, which may impact physical and mental health outcomes long term. This narrative review explores existing literature on ED/DE and body image in individuals with physical disabilities and identifies unique factors that may increase risk. Time‐sensitive, developmentally appropriate and specialized treatment options are needed to support this population.

Eating disorders (ED) have the highest mortality rate among psychiatric conditions and disordered eating (DE) affects millions, yet little is known about their impact on individuals with physical disabilities.Unique risk factors—like body image issues, feeding challenges, mobility concerns, social stigma and ableism—can make people with physical disabilities more vulnerable to ED/DE.ED/DE in this population are often overlooked in clinical settings, highlighting the need for specialized training.Research on ED/DE among people with physical disabilities is limited, especially for specific disability subgroups. More studies are needed on prevalence, presentation and tailored interventions.

Eating disorders (ED) have the highest mortality rate among psychiatric conditions and disordered eating (DE) affects millions, yet little is known about their impact on individuals with physical disabilities.

Unique risk factors—like body image issues, feeding challenges, mobility concerns, social stigma and ableism—can make people with physical disabilities more vulnerable to ED/DE.

ED/DE in this population are often overlooked in clinical settings, highlighting the need for specialized training.

Research on ED/DE among people with physical disabilities is limited, especially for specific disability subgroups. More studies are needed on prevalence, presentation and tailored interventions.