Supporting social recovery in eating disorders: evidence-based principles and strategies for professionals

Eating disorder recovery is both a therapeutic and a social process. While many professionals working in eating disorder care recognise the importance of social factors in eating disorder recovery, current practice often addresses these needs informally and inconsistently. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend assessing individuals' social environments and addressing social needs in treatment but provide limited practical direction. This resource bridges that gap by translating research on social identity, belonging, and eating disorder recovery into structured principles and strategies to aid people in recovery from an eating disorder and their healthcare teams. It complements existing therapeutic approaches by offering an evidence-based framework for integrating social connection and identity reconstruction into treatment. These are areas critical for sustained recovery but rarely formally embedded in standard care pathways.