New Research Suggests Eating Disorder Recovery Should Focus on Behavior and Agency

A journal paper proposes a shift away from overly complex treatment models to emphasize the importance of everyday eating habits and personal empowerment.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 6:37pm

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A new paper in the Journal of Eating Disorders argues that the field of eating disorder treatment has become overly complex, losing sight of two crucial factors: behavior (the everyday actions and habits around eating) and agency (an individual's capacity to make decisions and take action). The authors, a recovery coach and a neurobiologist, propose a shift towards approaches that prioritize the client's own expertise and ability to learn, decide, and act, rather than relying solely on advice from medical professionals.

Why it matters

Current recovery success rates for eating disorders remain frustratingly low, prompting calls for innovation in the field. This paper suggests that by refocusing on behavior and agency, treatment models could become more effective and empowering for individuals seeking to overcome eating disorders.

The details

The paper draws a parallel between 'solution-focused brief therapy', which emphasizes the client as the expert on their own life, and popular coaching approaches that see the client as fundamentally capable of solving their own problems. The authors argue that these high-behavior, high-agency methods, while not a panacea, are unlikely to cause harm and have the potential to spark powerful feedback loops between mind, body, and behavior.

  • The paper was published in the Journal of Eating Disorders in April 2026.

The players

Emily Troscianko

A recovery coach and the lead author of the paper.

Michael Leon

A neurobiologist and co-author of the paper.

Journal of Eating Disorders

The academic journal that published the paper.

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What they’re saying

“Solution-focused coaching is a practice that places primary emphasis on assisting the client to define a desired future state and to construct a pathway in both thinking and action to move toward that future state.”

— Cavanagh & Grant, Authors of a coaching handbook

“Solution-focused brief therapy is seen as a perfectly logical and straightforward process and eating disorders are seen as ways of behaving that can be changed.”

— Jacob, Author

What’s next

The authors hope that this paper will inspire both individuals with eating disorders and professionals working in the field to consider new approaches that prioritize behavior and agency in the recovery process.

The takeaway

By refocusing eating disorder treatment on the client's own expertise, decision-making, and everyday actions, this paper proposes a shift away from overly complex, paternalistic models towards more empowering and potentially effective methods for supporting recovery.