#EDAW2026 will be a place to share and to listen to stories about experiences with eating disorders. Throughout the week, we will explore the idea of community: how connection can support recovery, the potential risks and benefits of different community spaces, and how we can collectively create environments where individuals and families affected by eating disorders feel seen, supported, and understood.
This year’s events were developed in consultation with individuals who have lived experience of eating disorders, through our Media Panel and Expert by Experience Panel, under the theme of: ‘Eating Disorders: Exploring Community and Connection’.
We encourage you to join us from 23rd February – 1st March 2026 when we will be hosting a series of events featuring people with lived experience of eating disorders, those supporting someone, researchers and clinicians, all working together to raise awareness of eating disorders amongst the wider community.
- Click on the events below to see more information and booking details. If you have issues accessing any of the information below please email communications@bodywhys.ie.
Monday 23rd February
Join Bodywhys CEO, Harriet Parsons and a panel of speakers with lived experience of eating disorders and of supporting someone with an eating disorder, to discuss the role of Community and Connection on the road to eating disorder recovery.
Tuesday 24th February
To mark Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2026, the multidisciplinary eating disorders team here at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services will host a webinar on Tuesday, 24 February, from 6.00pm – 7.30pm exploring various factors influencing eating disorders from the use of weight loss medications to binge eating disorder, treatment for and recovery from eating disorders and more.
The theme of this year’s Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2026 is ‘Eating Disorders: Exploring Connection and Community’.
The 90-minute webinar will hear from Dr Gary Cooney, Consultant Psychiatrist in Eating Disorders; Michelle Ward, Candidate Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Eating Disorders; Dr Joan Costelloe, Clinical Research Fellow; and Laura Griffin, Occupational Therapist on the Eating Disorders team.
The multidisciplinary team will discuss physical health complications arising from eating disorders; access to healthcare and the stigma associated with eating disorders; sensory sensitivities (assessing, understanding and adapting, and how occupational therapy supports individuals who are neurodivergent); the impact of the rising popularity of GLP1 agonists (weight loss medications) on eating disorders; and binge eating disorder.
This webinar is suitable for a general audience and anyone working in healthcare environments.
Join Bodywhys CEO, Harriet Parsons, and a panel of people with lived experience of eating disorders as they reflect on experiences of loss, grief and hope as part of their eating disorder journey.
Email register@nedrc.ie to register.
Wednesday 25th February
09:20 – 1pm: Morning Sessions – Dr. Michelle Clifford (Chair)
09:20: Welcome and Opening – Dr Michelle Clifford, National Clinical Lead for Eating Disorders NCPED
09:25: Update from the NCPED and Bodywhys – Dr Michelle Clifford, National Clinical Lead for Eating Disorders NCPED, Harriet Parsons , Training and Development Manager, Bodywhys
09:45: Compassion Focused Therapy for Eating Disorders – Dr Ken Goss, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
10:45: Break
11:15: Supporting Students with Eating Disorders in third Level Education Including Panel Discussion – Dr Niamh Farrelly, College Psychiatrist/Assistant Director Student Health, Trinity College Dublin
11:50: GP update – Building connections with Primary care – Dr Aoife O Sullivan, HSE /ICGP Lead in Mental Health
12:10: Research update – Trends and description of inpatient admissions for eating disorders among children and adolescents in Ireland: 2018-2022 – Harriet Lovett, Health Research Board
12:30: The role of Dietetics in Family Therapy for Eating Disorders – Amy Bolton, Senior Clinical Dietitian, HSE CAMHS North Dublin Eating Disorder Services
12:50: Closing – Dr Michelle Clifford
Join Christopher Cash from Bodywhys and a panel of speakers, to hear how families can be involved in the treatment and recovery of eating disorders.
Thursday 26th February
Join Harriet Parsons and Fiona Flynn as they discuss Bodywhys‘ work in supporting second level schools, explore research related to body image and eating disorders, and examine how to help foster resilience in children and young people. They will introduce our new schools programme, the ‘Inside Out Programme’ and share some practical tips on how to support a young person if concerns arise.
Note: This event is a pre-recorded stream as opposed to a live webinar. Directions on how to ask questions will be provided however.
Email register@nedrc.ie to register.
Join Bodywhys for a panel discussion and Q&A that looks at experiences of body image and eating disorders from various perspectives. Hosted by Bodywhys’ Chair of the Board of Directors Siobhan McArdle, this event will feature a mix of professional and individual experiences in the following areas:
Neurodiversity – Nicola Coss (ADHD Ireland) and Mirin (Lived Experience)
LGBTQIA+ experiences – Sarah Watters (Researcher Trinity College Dublin) and Megan (Lived Experience)
Young Travellers and social media – Pa Reilly (Pavee Point)
Diverse ethnic experiences – Dr. Hannah Lewis and Dhanisha Avora (Researchers from University College London)
We know that sports coaches, fitness professionals and other individuals supporting athletes perform a ‘first responder’ role. They are often the first to spot that someone is struggling with their relationship with food and exercise. And often they’re not adequately equipped to perform this role.
So if you work/coach/support in the sporting and fitness world, join SupportED Families for this free webinar so that you know what to watch out for – and what to do.
AEA members will share their experience of how they found recovery from addictive eating. All are welcome, including anyone affected by addictive eating, health professionals or the media.
Friday 27th February
Join Kathy Downes, Bodywhys Training & Development Manager and Molly Twomey (Award Winning Poet) to discuss the role that creativity can play in eating disorder recovery. This webinar will also feature poetry readings from individuals with lived experience of eating disorders.
Email register@nedrc.ie to register.
This webinar explores why connection is central to sustainable recovery and how clinical care and community support work together to help people rebuild everyday life. The session brings together clinical and community perspectives to examine how eating disorders disrupt connection, and how recovery is strengthened through relationships, participation and continuity of support.
What This Webinar Will Explore:
Why isolation undermines recovery
How eating disorders impact relationships and daily life
The role of group-based and activity-led care in rebuilding connection
Why peer and community support are vital beyond treatment
How clinical services and community organisations complement one another
What helps recovery feel sustainable in everyday life
This session will include structured input from both speakers followed by a moderated Q&A.
Saturday 28th February
This workshop will take place at The Radisson Blu in Cork. Places are limited. To secure your place, please email familysupport@bodywhys.ie by Friday 20th February.
For more information on Maudsley, please see here.
Join SupportED Families on Saturday 28th February at 12pm for a free webinar (online) for those supporting a loved one with an eating disorder.
Sunday 1st March
This workshop will take place at The Radisson Blu in Cork. Places are limited. To secure your place, please email familysupport@bodywhys.ie by Friday 20th February.
For more information on Maudsley, please see here.
Monday 2nd March
