Barriers to access and utilization of eating disorder treatment among women

Anorexia, bulimia, and other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED) are psychiatric disorders recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5). One difference of eating disorders compared to other psychiatric disorders is the physical effects of the disease. Although anorexia is easier to physically detect than bulimia and OSFED, many women remain undiagnosed and untreated. Even if an eating disorder is recognized by the individual, barriers to clinical diagnosis and treatment persist. This study examines the barriers to treatment among women with anorexia, bulimia, and OSFED using Andersen’s Behavioral Model. The physical, psychological, and personality trait differences among the eating disorder subgroups may affect treatment utilization and access.