What Healthcare Professionals Should Know About Digital Technologies and Eating Disorders

Abstract

Clients with eating disorders (ED) make up a group of vulnerable digital technology users. Since digital technologies can play an important role in their lives, the potential impacts of such usage should be discussed in relation to mental healthcare. The purpose of this chapter is to encourage healthcare professionals to reflect on the possible importance of technology-related topics in their clients’ lives and consequently their importance for the treatment process. The present chapter is designed to help professionals better understand the online activities of their clients, to follow developing trends in digital technologies (such as social networking sites, popular websites, and smartphone applications), and to consider both the potential risks and opportunities of their usage. To achieve this aim, the chapter focuses on the most prevalent online behaviors of users with eating disorders. The first section of the chapter presents two types of websites related to eating disorders: pro-ED websites (which are used to support pro-ED behavior) and pro-recovery websites (which support the recovery process). This section gives special attention to the processes which may affect clients’ disorders and treatment, namely, the development of the pro-ED identity, social comparison, practices of sharing negative statements, and practices of sharing tips and tricks. The second section focuses on the use of social networking sites, their specifics, and related practices. The third section presents practices related to use of mobile applications. Within each topic, the chapter provides specific recommendations for healthcare professionals on how to approach technology-related topics with clients who have an eating disorder. The final section of the chapter is based on specific examples formulated by healthcare professionals and discusses why they do not talk about technology-related topics with their clients. It also provides recommendations on how these professionals can approach relevant topics. To enrich the current knowledge on digital technology’s value in treating eating disorders, we use direct quotes from interviews with 30 professionals who work with clients afflicted by an ED.