FSU psychologist selected for membership in Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida

A Florida State University psychologist well known for her translational research on eating disorders has been selected for membership in the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida.

Pamela Keel, a Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Psychology, will be inducted to the academy in November in recognition of her work in identifying and characterizing purging disorder — a life-threatening illness impacting approximately 1 in 50 women worldwide — and advancing research in the epidemiology, etiology, and treatment of the eating disorder.

“I feel honored to be inducted as a member of the ASEMFL in recognition of my research identifying purging disorder as a new eating disorder within the field of mental health,” said Keel.

To be selected for ASEMFL membership, individuals must live or work in the State of Florida and be a member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, or be nominated by a current ASEMFL member and have an outstanding record of accomplishments, national and international recognition.

Keel is among 15 new members to be admitted to the academy this year, which encompasses more than 200 members across the state. Her research focuses on analyzing the biological and psychological factors that contribute to binge eating and purging behaviors, nosology, and statistical approaches to classification of disorders, and the longitudinal and epidemiological studies of the psychological, social, and cultural factors that influence eating disorders and body image.

“My research in eating disorders has expanded my understanding of the human condition by probing the biological, psychological, and social factors that influence behaviors critical to survival and yet so malleable to social context,” Keel said. “I most enjoy the process of discovery and then sharing new findings with others, including writing articles and books and giving plenary and keynote addresses.”

Among Keel’s most well-known recent work is a study published in 2020 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders that revealed a “consistent and direct” link between posting photos on Instagram and negative thoughts about weight and shape, experiencing urges to exercise and restrict food intake, and increased levels of anxiety. The study garnered national attention and shed new light on the risk factors associated with developing eating disorders and the role of social media in that equation.

“Dr. Keel is among the world leaders in eating disorders research, and she is responsible for the recognition of one particular subtype of eating psychopathology,” said Brad Schmidt, psychology chair and director of the FSU Anxiety and Behavioral Health Clinic. “Her induction into the Florida Academy is well-deserved recognition of her many contributions to the field.”

Keel has secured more than two decades of continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health for her research on bulimic syndromes and has led five National Institute of Mental Health-funded Research Project Grants as principal investigator and four as co-investigator. To date, she has authored four books and over 225 peer-reviewed articles.

Before joining the Florida State University faculty in 2008, Keel was an associate professor of psychology at her undergraduate alma mater, Harvard University, and a professor at the University of Iowa. She is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, the Academy for Eating Disorders and the Radcliffe Institute.

Founded in 2018, the ASEMFL undertakes or contracts studies of interest to the State of Florida that inform the community of current and future challenges facing society, and fosters discussion on how these challenges can be addressed.

For more information on the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida visit, asemfl.org.