YouTube and National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Partner to Present Year-Long Video Series Focused on Eating Disorders, Resources, and Lived Experiences
Humans are storytellers. Universally, we seek to foster understanding and harmony with one another through sharing our experiences and knowledge. Together, we are made stronger through these stories and discover new ways to communicate across divides. In this spirit, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is partnering with YouTube to produce a 52-week year long series of videos entitled “Excerpts from the Experts.”
Eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of any mental disorder, surpassed only by opioid related deaths, and will impact 28.8 million Americans at some point in their life. While there is hope and recovery is possible, early intervention is key.
“YouTube had over 1.4 billion views on mental health content in the US in 2021 and we know that the earlier a person with an eating disorder reaches out and seeks treatment, the greater the likelihood of physical and emotional recovery,” says Sarah Chase, VP of Communication for NEDA. “This is why NEDA is partnering with YouTube to tell these stories, relate to a wider audience, and pair compelling content with the vital resources people need to make an informed, critical next step.”
The video series will center on the stories and work of innovators, researchers, clinicians, and those with lived experiences. The content has been designed to help individuals and families navigate their journey with eating disorders, track advances in the field, and spark dialogue about new innovations and ways NEDA can further empower people through advocacy and action.
In addition to the YouTube series, NEDA is pleased to be involved with YouTube as part of YouTube’s authoritative health features. This means that the YouTube series being produced by NEDA is eligible to show up on YouTube’s shelves focused on anorexia, bulimia, ARFID, binge eating disorder (BED), and other disorders that can be discovered utilizing the platform’s powerful search tools.
According to Elizabet Altunkara, Director of Education NEDA, “We understand that eating disorders don’t discriminate. They impact people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights. Being involved with YouTube allows for greater discovery of resources, across the full spectrum of impacted people, families, and communities.”
“As we are learning more about the nuances and variability of the experiences of those struggling with eating disorders, we hope these videos will shed light on the essential conversations to be had in recognizing our current limitations, especially about eating disorders in BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized communities,” added Lauren Smolar, VP of Mission for NEDA. “Through better and more relatable stories, we can advocate for, value, and center those individuals and communities encountering eating disorders who also have lived experiences of discrimination, bias, and stigma. These videos and this health features partnership will help all of us be able to provide accessible resources and education, which leads to more just and equitable care.”
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Initial Release Schedule
Mon, April 3
What Eating Disorder Treatment Should Look Like
Douglas Bunnell, Ph.D, FAED, CEDS
Douglas W. Bunnell, PhD, FAED, CEDS-S is a clinical psychologist in Fairfield, Connecticut. He has specialized in the treatment of people with eating disorders for the past 30 years. Dr. Bunnell is a past board chair of the NEDA and recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Bunnell has helped to design, develop and manage PHP and residential programs for several national eating disorder programs. He is a Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders and Certified Eating Disorder Supervisor for IAEDP. Dr. Bunnell has co-authored numerous chapters and journal articles on the treatment of eating disorders and the training of clinicians. He is particularly focused on the integration of evidence-based treatment into higher levels of eating disorder treatment programming. More recently, Dr. Bunnell has been working on clinical protocols for addressing eating disorders and co-morbid psychiatric issues such as PTSD.
In this video, Douglas Bunnell, Ph.D, FAED, CEDS discusses eating disorder treatment and how multiple disciplines need to work together to address various aspects of an eating disorder to fully support the individual.
Mon, April 10
Frontline Medical Providers and Eating Disorders
Christine Peat, PhD, FAED, LP
Dr. Christine Peat, PhD, FAED, LP is the Director of the National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders (NCEED) and is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). She completed her undergraduate training in Psychology at the University of Arizona and earned her Master’s degree and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of North Dakota. Her internship was in behavioral medicine at West Virginia University, after which she went on to complete her post-doctoral fellowship in eating disorders research at UNC. Currently, Dr. Peat works as both a researcher and a clinician who focuses on eating pathology across the spectrum, but with a distinct focus on binge eating disorder. Dr. Peat is also a licensed psychologist in North Carolina and treats eating disorders across the spectrum. Her expertise is working with college students and adults who are seeking outpatient therapy for eating disorders, and she enjoys working with individuals across a diversity of race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and cultural identity.
In this video, Christine Peat, PhD, FAED, LP discusses how much training frontline medical providers receive in eating disorders and shares recommendations for individuals and families who are seeking treatment for an eating disorder.
Mon, April 17
Eating Disorders, Addiction, and Trauma Co-occurring
Kim Dennis, MD, CEDS
Kim Dennis, MD, CEDS, is a board-certified psychiatrist, also board certified in addiction medicine, who specializes in treating eating disorders, addiction, trauma and complex co-occurring disorders. She believes in and maintains a holistic perspective in the practice of psychiatry, incorporating biological, psycho-social and spiritual approaches into individually tailored treatments for each patient. She is the co-founder, Chief Medical Officer and CEO of SunCloud Health. Dr. Dennis obtained her medical degree from the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine and completed her psychiatry residency training at the University of Chicago Hospitals. Her knowledge of eating disorders, addiction and trauma isn’t limited to her academic and clinical experience. She also has long term recovery from an eating disorder, alcoholism and trauma. Today, she is able to combine her personal journey with her medical training and clinical experience to deeply touch the lives of those who seek her help.
In this video, Kim Dennis, MD, CEDS discusses the overlap between eating disorders, addiction, and trauma, and the treatment of these co-occurring illnesses.
Mon, April 24
Treatment of Co-occurring Eating Disorder and Substance Use
Amy Baker Dennis, PhD, FAED
Dr. Baker Dennis has maintained a clinical practice for four decades and has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders since 1977. She has served on the faculties of Wayne State Medical School, The University of South Florida Medical School and the Hamilton Holt Graduate School at Rollins College. She is a Founding Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), a Founding member of the Eating Disorder Research Society, Founder of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), Founding Fellow/Diplomate of the Academy for Cognitive Therapy, a Certified Cognitive Therapist and has served on the governing boards and advisory boards of several organizations including AED, the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) and the Global Foundation for Eating Disorders (GFED). Dr. Dennis has received numerous awards for her contributions to the field of eating disorders including “Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Eating Disorders” (awarded by AED) and the “Lifetime Achievement Award” (awarded by NEDA). She has lectured and provided training programs nationally and internationally. She has published extensively and her most recent book “Eating Disorders, Addictions and Substance Use Disorders: Research, Clinical and Treatment Perspectives” was released in March of 2014.
In this video Amy Baker Dennis, PhD, FAED discusses what treatment should look like for co-occurring eating disorders and substance use and shares takeaways for individuals and families looking for such treatment.
About Your Host
Sarah Bowie Keaton, MSW, RYT recently completed her Master of Social Work with a specialization in trauma-informed care. She is a therapist working at a nonprofit outpatient clinic serving adolescents in Rochester, New York. Prior to her life as a mental health social worker, Sarah was founder and president of Keaton Media, a consulting firm that provided marketing strategy and fundraising support to private real estate investment firms. Although she enjoyed the creativity that she brought to the business world, she was yearning for more purposeful work. Social work was the most natural fit for her; she says it feeds her soul in so many ways – it encourages her to show up as her authentic self; values like empathy, compassion, and respect for the inherent dignity and worth of every person are esteemed; and the work helps improve the lives of individuals, communities, and beyond. Sarah brings rich and diverse experiences encompassing motherhood, business owner, yoga instructor, and now social worker.
