Health care professionals' reactions to working with eating disorder patients

Abstract

A survey of 71 health care professionals involved in work with eating disorder patients revealed that 20 (28%) of the participants in the survey perceived themselves as moderately to greatly affected by their work with these patients. Among the changes they attributed to their work were an increased awareness of food, their physical condition, their appearance, and feelings about their body. In addition, they reported a positive change in body image and an increased ingestion of healthier foods. The group of health care professionals who perceived themselves as moderately to greatly affected by their work with eating disorder patients was composed approximately equally of normal eaters, binge eaters, and those who reported having experienced eating disorder symptoms at some time in their lives. Length of experience in the field of eating disorders was not a significant factor in being affected or unaffected by work in this area.