Phillipa Hay

Phillipa Hay is a Professor and Chair at Western Sydney University School of Medicine, specializing in eating disorders research. With 555 publications and over 25,000 citations, she is a leading authority in the field of eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and their relationship with obesity.

Her research interests span multiple domains of eating disorders:

• Epidemiology and burden of eating disorders in the Australian population
• Severe and enduring eating disorders (SEED)
• Eating disorders in special populations (athletes, autistic individuals)
• Development and validation of screening tools
• Treatment outcomes for residential and outpatient programs
• ANZAED credentialing standards for clinicians
• Comorbidity between eating disorders and obesity

Professor Hay's recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate her continued leadership in the field, with a focus on longitudinal studies, treatment innovations, and the intersection of eating disorders with other mental health conditions. Her work consistently emphasizes evidence-based practice and the translation of research into clinical applications.

As a leader in the field, Professor Hay has contributed significantly to:

• Developing the ANZAED credentialing system for eating disorder clinicians
• Advancing understanding of severe and enduring eating disorders
• Improving early detection through validated screening tools
• Enhancing eating disorder content in health professional curricula
• Documenting the epidemiology of eating disorders in Australia

Her research program actively investigates treatment outcomes, patient experiences, and innovative approaches to eating disorder management, with particular attention to vulnerable populations and complex presentations. Professor Hay's work bridges clinical practice, research, and policy development in the eating disorders field.