16/03/2026
We were honoured to open the 2026 ANZAED Autumn Workshop Series with a keynote from Chevese Turner, a leading international advocate and expert in Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Chevese is the founder of the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA) and has spent more than two decades advancing awareness, research, and treatment for BED.
In her keynote, Chevese reminded us that Binge Eating Disorder is the most common eating disorder, yet it remains one of the least recognised. In the United States, BED accounts for nearly 47% of eating disorder cases, but it is still frequently misunderstood as a matter of willpower or lifestyle choice rather than a serious clinical condition.
She emphasised that not all experiences of BED are the same, and that shame and stigma continue to shape how people living with BED are perceived and treated.
A powerful reminder from the keynote: compulsive eating is not simply a choice, it can be the body’s response to restriction and other complex biological and psychological factors.
