There’s been a common misperception for years that external, sociocultural factors drive eating disorders (EDs).

These include everything from overbearing, perfectionist fathers and traumatic childhood experiences to pop culture’s “skinny ideal” and the relentless “likes” and “dislikes” across social media platforms.

Those factors can and do play a role in the onset of EDs, but scientific research shows that there’s something else at play that may be more important: the brain. More specifically, the fundamental brain-circuitry changes that occur when EDs are present.

The good news on this? As we get a clearer picture of the neurobiology of EDs, that will improve ED treatments.

Some of that is already happening.

When people come into the ED unit where I am the chief medical officer, their treatment generally consists of three key prongs: psychotherapy modalities, nutritional and weight restoration, and psychiatric medications if........

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