Towards equitable eating disorder treatment: addressing disparities in access to higher-level care across Canada

Clinicians and researchers invited to speak at the Canadian Nutrition Society's Thematic Conference 2023 emphasized disparities that exist within Canada's universal healthcare system for individuals with disordered eating or eating disorders (ED). To further characterize the severity and impact of these disparities on patients' access to appropriate healthcare services, we conducted an online environmental scan of Canadian higher-level ED treatment programs. In this article, we describe the geographic availability, offerings, and transparency of patient-facing materials for 48 treatment programs; identify barriers to care and provide actionable recommendations for clinicians, program administrators, and stakeholders; and call for efforts to dismantle the identified disparities and increase accessibility to essential health services.