Exposure Therapy for Eating and Weight Disorders: Evidence, Practice, and Challenges
Traditional Workshop 10 - Exposure Therapy for Eating and Weight Disorders: Evidence, Practice, and Challenges
Saturday, June 27, 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM PDT
Location: Sierra A, 5th Floor
Earn 3 Credit
Keywords: Anorexia, Binge Eating, Body Image Level of Familiarity: Basic Recommended Readings: Becker, C., Farrell, N. R., & Waller, G. (2019). Exposure Therapy for Eating Disorders. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/med-psych/9780190069742.001.0001 , Butler, R. M., & Heimberg, R. G. (2020). Exposure therapy for eating disorders: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 78, 101851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101851 , Melles, H., Spix, M., & Jansen, A. (2021). Avoidance in Anorexia Nervosa: Towards a research agenda. Physiology & Behavior, 238, 113478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113478 , Schaumberg, K., Reilly, E. E., Gorrell, S., Levinson, C. A., Farrell, N. R., Brown, T. A., Smith, K. M., Schaefer, L. M., Essayli, J. H., Haynos, A. F., & Anderson, L. M. (2021). Conceptualizing eating disorder psychopathology using an anxiety disorders framework: Evidence and implications for exposure-based clinical research. Clinical Psychology Review, 83, 101952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101952 ,
Professor of Experimental Clinical Psychology Maastricht University
Exposure Therapy for Eating and Weight Disorders: Evidence, Practice, and Challenges Exposure therapy has a long tradition in the treatment of anxiety disorders, yet its application to eating and weight disorders is still emerging. This workshop will provide an in-depth overview of the empirical evidence supporting exposure-based interventions for concerns such as food avoidance, overeating, binge eating, body concerns, and weight-related fears. Participants will learn how to design and implement various forms of exposure and explore strategies to address common clinical challenges, including avoidance and safety concerns. Emphasis will be placed on translating research into practice and on integrating exposure interventions within established evidence-based treatment frameworks, such as CBT-E.
Outline: 1. Exposure therapy for eating disorders: state of the art 2. Working mechanisms of exposure 1. Habituation 2. Inhibitory Learning 3. Developing and designing exposure interventions 1. Fears and avoidance 2. Loss of control 3. Shape and weight concerns 4. Challenges and pitfalls
Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the empirical evidence supporting exposure interventions in eating and weight disorders.
Identify core mechanisms of action (e.g., habituation, threat expectancies, inhibitory learning) relevant to exposure-based interventions.
Design and implement different types of exposure strategies tailored to clinical cases.
Anticipate common clinical challenges to exposure interventions and discuss strategies to address them.
Integrate exposure techniques into broader evidence-based treatment frameworks for eating and weight disorders.
