The Role of Experiences of the Body and Embodiment in Type 1 Diabetes and Disordered Eating

Abstract

Type 1 Diabetes and Disordered Eating (T1DE) is a term used to describe the presence of disordered eating patterns that are specific to those with Type 1 Diabetes. Research has highlighted that conventional eating disorder treatments are limited in their effectiveness for this group and specific clinical interventions and resources are lacking. Whilst T1DE is not recognised as a formal diagnosis, growing research has highlighted the complex and unique nature of the experiences, specifically, proposing the role of diabetes-specific factors. This Constructivist Grounded Theory study took an explorative approach to understanding how people with T1DE perceive their physical body and its relationship to their identity and the social world. 17 people with lived experience of T1DE engaged in semi-structured interviews which were analysed to construct a theoretical understanding of their embodied experiences. A theoretical model is presented which suggests a dynamic interplay of processes relating to the body, the self, and the relational world which underlie disordered eating in this group. The findings indicated that these processes were intrinsically linked to experiences of diabetes and diabetes management. These experiences appeared to drive an ‘othering’ of the physical body which created a disconnect between participants and their multifaceted selves. A unique process of ‘redefining’ control was constructed, and a secondary process of finding validation in the body was proposed. This secondary process became a powerful reinforcer and was considered to be key in driving disordered eating. Clinical and theoretical implications are reviewed and early indicators of potential sub-variations within the theoretical model are discussed.