Eating Disorders in Autistic Adults: A Hidden Epidemic
Reflections from the Intersection of Masking, Autism, and Disordered Eating
I began my clinical career as a therapist lead in an intensive outpatient program (IOP) for eating disorders. Every day, I worked with clients—many autistic adults across the gender spectrum—who were struggling with anorexia, bulimia, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), or binge eating disorder. Our treatment focused on body image, meal plans, cognitive distortions, and emotion regulation.
But over time, I noticed something troubling.