The EmpowerED Adult Eating Disorders Lead Provider Collaborative hosted its twice-yearly Transformation Event on Thursday 27 November 2025, bringing together clinicians, commissioners, and experts by experience to examine the impact of social media on eating disorders and recovery.
Speakers highlighted both the risks and opportunities of social media use, drawing on lived experience, clinical evidence, and emerging research. Discussions underscored how platforms can amplify harmful content but also provide connection, peer support, and recovery-focused communities.
Interactive workshops enabled participants to co-design practical one-page guides for clinicians and service users, offering clear strategies to navigate social media safely and constructively in the context of eating disorder care. Colleagues from EmpowerED have taken these ideas away and will publish the results in the near future.
Closing the event, Dr Cahill emphasised the importance of embedding digital awareness into treatment pathways, while Tim Welch reaffirmed EmpowerED’s commitment to leading system-wide responses to the challenges of eating disorders in today’s digital age.
EmpowerED continues to champion collaboration, evidence-based practice, and lived experience to shape innovative approaches to care across the North West.
1.30pm - Welcome and introductions
- Tim Welch, Chief Executive, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
1.40pm - The impact of social media
- Ruth, EmpowerED Expert by Experience Forum
1.50pm - Review of evidence base related to social media and eating disorders
- Dr Matthew Cahill, Consultant Psychiatrist in Eating Disorders, Clinical Director Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Eating Disorder Services, Clinical Lead, EmpowerED Adult Eating Disorders, Lead Provider Collaborative, North West.
2.05pm - #Recovery: A qualitative exploration of the content of and responses to eating disorder recovery content on TikTok
- Hannah, EmpowerED Expert by Experience Forum
2.15pm - Social media and having an eating disorder, my personal experience
- Chloe, EmpowerED Expert by Experience Forum
2.20pm - Social media, eating disorders and the power to change the feed
- Clare, EmpowerED Expert by Experience Forum
2.25pm - Eating disorders in a digital age
- Sophie Ball, PARALEL Practitioner
2.55pm – Break and refreshments
3.15pm – Navigating social media in eating disorder recovery
- Emily, EmpowerED Expert by Experience Forum
3.25pm – Small group session
- Groups 1 & 2 “Developing a one page guide for clinicians”
- Groups 3 & 4 “Developing a one page guide for people with ED
- Kelly Berry, Clinical Commissioner
- Hannah Miller, Clinical Commissioner
- Morgan Russell, Clinical Commissioner
- Susie Williams, Head of Quality and Assurance
4.05pm – Summary and next steps
- Dr Matthew Cahill, Consultant Psychiatrist in Eating Disorders, Clinical Director Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Eating Disorder Services, Clinical Lead, EmpowerED Adult Eating Disorders, Lead Provider Collaborative, North West.
4.20pm – Closing comments
- Tim Welch, Chief Executive, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Slide 36 - Social media, eating disorders and the power to change the feed - Clare, Expert by Experience,
EmpowerED Forum