Lily Registry

SAAIM is committed to advocating for the most vulnerable of our patients and to ask challenging questions.

People admitted to hospital for medical instability due to an eating disorder are particularly vulnerable. Some of this vulnerability could be related to the biases held by the teams attending them. We want to change that on multiple fronts.

First, clarify and communicate that there is more to these illnesses than the psychological manifestations that take centre stage. There is a shift occurring in the available scientific evidence that points to novel biology such as the gut-brain axis and the polygenic view of eating disorders.

Second, begin treating these illnesses and the medical instability like any other disease that needs a basic unpacking of the underlying pathophysiology. We will begin data collection in the form of a clinical quality registry – Lily Registry – built and funded by SAAIM, that will encourage multi-disciplinary care, with feedback of the data collected to the teams providing care.

Third, look for a minimum viable breakthrough. What one thing could we do that will improve our care and help people heal faster? This registry will improve connection. Connecting clinicians across the usual professional divides, making observations that can lead to testable hypotheses. The best way to get to the good idea — that minimum viable breakthrough — is to sift and discard the bad ideas.

Lastly, we will begin trying new therapies. We need therapeutic breakthroughs. Better is still possible.