National Eating Disorders Association

Medically reviewed by Andrea Brant, LMHC

Updated November 26, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Research estimates that nearly 28.8 million Americans will have an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime. Many organizations are working to draw attention to the seriousness of eating disorders and offer support to the people whose lives these conditions directly affect every day.

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is one of the leading nonprofit organizations whose mission is to raise awareness, support research, and directly offer support to those impacted by eating disorders. If you think you could be living with an eating disorder, the National Eating Disorders Association can be an excellent resource for your healing journey. Consider contacting a licensed mental health professional for further support.

Group sitting together in group session in a indoor room. — Getty/SDI Productions

History of the National Eating Disorders Association

NEDA is a nonprofit organization that was formed in 2001, when Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention, Inc. and the American Anorexia/Bulimia Association merged. Its goal is generally to enhance the treatment and prevention of eating disorders by supporting research, education, support groups, and other forms of outreach to people with eating disorders and their families and friends.

The National Eating Disorders Association provides several services, with extensive information available on its website. Here are some of the ways National Eating Disorders Association supports its mission.

Learn

National Eating Disorders Association’s website features the Grace Holland Cozine Resource Center, which offers a wide range of information for people with eating disorders and their loved ones, as well as children, students, and educators.

This resource provides various learning materials, including information about warning signs and symptoms of eating disorders, medical complications of eating disorders, body image, the effects of the media, and links to excerpts from National Eating Disorders Association's YouTube channel program, Excerpts from the Experts.

People visiting the website can also find information about getting and paying for treatment, and there are resources for professionals on how to treat clients with eating disorders, including professional guidelines and links to other organizations that offer support.

Students can find back-to-school resources, including tips for how to manage difficult transitions, FAQs, relevant National Eating Disorders Association blog posts, and a presentation explaining the basics of eating disorders.

Get help

For those looking for help with an eating disorder, National Eating Disorders Association offers multiple resources where you can find therapists, registered dieticians, and treatment centers, including a link to a directory of professionals who specialize in serving the AAPI and BIPOC communities.

Get screened

National Eating Disorders Association also offers a screening tool for people ages 13 and older to help them determine whether it’s time to seek professional help. For people who may be at risk of developing eating disorders, this tool can recommend possible next steps and provide links to useful resources.

Get involved

The Get Involved tab on National Eating Disorders Association’s website provides information about the ways in which the organization is actively advocating and educating others in the real world. Some of the ways National Eating Disorders Association encourages people to get involved include the following:

Getty/AnnaStills

Eating Disorders Awareness Week

Eating Disorders Awareness Week happens every year from the end of February to the beginning of March. This campaign generally aims to educate the public about eating disorders and to provide hope and support for those affected by them. Campaign resources are available on the website, including a link to sign up to be a collaborator or find out how to join the Lighting Campaign, and there are numerous downloadable graphics to share on social media.

National Eating Disorders Association Walks

NEDA Walks are community walks organized to increase awareness about eating disorders and fundraise for the organization. The National Eating Disorders Association website provides information about walks happening across the country and links where you can register to participate or make a donation.

Campus Warriors

Campus Warriors is an outreach program designed for university and college campuses to raise awareness about eating disorders and fundraise for National Eating Disorders Association. Campus Warriors are individual people, like students and faculty members, as well as student organizations who have lived experience with eating disorders, who volunteer to represent NEDA on campus.

The Body Project

The Body Project is a prevention program for high schools and colleges that aims to provide a place where women and girls can “confront unrealistic beauty ideals and engage them in the development of healthy body image through verbal, written, and behavioral exercises.”

It was developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, Stanford University, and Oregon Research Institute. The idea behind the Body Project is that if women and girls fight back against unrealistic societal beauty standards, people may choose not to subscribe to these ideals, which can lead to fewer people experiencing eating disorders.

Impact of NEDA

One area where National Eating Disorders Association is making an impact is in research. Since 2013, NEDA has awarded more than $2 million in grants to researchers involved in projects aimed at improving the lives of people affected by eating disorders.

The National Eating Disorders Association is also involved with The Global Foundation for Eating Disorders (GFED) Early Investigators Research Grant. This program was established in 2022 and supports researchers who are early in their careers and wish to pursue research concerned with eating disorders treatment.

In addition to supporting research, National Eating Disorders Association hosts more than 40 NEDA Walks around the country every year, providing free registration and incentive gear for individual and team fundraising efforts. The organization also hosts the NEDA Annual Gala. Tickets cost between $500 and $50,000 to attend at various sponsorship levels.

Other organizations that offer support

Other organizations that provide support for those with eating disorders by offering resources, fundraising, and supporting research are discussed below.

The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD)

ANAD is a nonprofit organization founded in 1976 by a nurse named Vivian Meehan, who struggled to find support after her daughter was diagnosed with anorexia. What started in Meehan’s basement grew to be one of the country’s leading nonprofits for those with eating disorders, hosting 11 virtual support groups, a helpline, and a mentorship program. ANAD helps about 200 people each week.

The Alliance

Johanna Kandel founded The Alliance after recovering from her own battles with eating disorders in October 2000. Over the next two decades, The Alliance worked to raise awareness and erase the stigma and secrecy around eating disorders. This organization offers a helpline, referrals to various providers, free support groups, and educational events.

Fighting Eating Disorders in Underrepresented Populations (FEDUP)

FEDUP is a collective of trans, intersex, and gender-diverse people aiming to raise awareness about the pervasiveness of eating disorders in the trans and gender-diverse community and make treatment more accessible. It offers resources for people in this community to get help with treatment, including a directory of counselors, therapists, coaches, and registered dieticians who provide gender-affirming care.

Woman speaking in a group setting in a group session. — Getty/Anchiy

Other ways of getting help for an eating disorder

Many people with eating disorders also have other mental health disorders, with some of the most common being anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders. Treatment plans vary, but for many people, psychotherapy can be an important part of recovery.

If you are experiencing symptoms of an eating disorder or another mental health condition, consider reaching out to an online therapist for convenient and accessible support. Eating disorders may be accompanied by feelings of shame and guilt, and other mental health conditions can make it challenging to leave home to speak with someone in person.

With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can work with a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home or any location with an internet connection. Plus, you can change therapists any time for free until you find one with whom you are comfortable.

Research has found online therapy to be an effective option for people with eating disorders. For example, a 2022 study found that “short-term clinical outcomes with virtual and in-person ED (eating disorder) therapies are comparable, and point to potentials of virtual therapy for situations in which geographical distance or other barriers impede physical access to trained therapists or specialized treatments.”

Takeaway

NEDA and other organizations are working hard to bring awareness to eating disorders while supporting research on treatments and providing support to people who experience the challenges of these conditions in their daily lives. Exploring NEDA’s resources can be a great place to start if you’re living with disordered eating habits. For further guidance, reach out to a licensed therapist online or in your local area.

Frequently asked questions

Read more below for answers to questions commonly asked about this topic.

What does the National Eating Disorders Association do?

The National Eating Disorders Association works to build community, advance research, and increase awareness to support the almost 30 million individuals who have eating disorders.

Is NEDA, the National Eating Disorders Association, free?

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) offers many resources and support services that are free of charge, like a treatment and practitioner directory to connect patients and professionals and a tool that helps those struggling with an eating disorder find treatment options covered by their insurance provider. They also offer a screening tool to assess whether a person may need further evaluation and several free articles for people living with eating disorders or people who have loved ones living with eating disorders to offer education and answer common questions without a money requirement.

What's the most serious eating disorder?

All eating disorders can be serious and life-threatening, but anorexia nervosa is often considered the most serious due to its high mortality rate.

Is ARFID a mental illness?

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a mental illness characterized by a fear or lack of interest in eating or food. While it’s most common in children, it can occur in people of all ages, backgrounds, genders, ethnicities, or sexual orientations.

Do I qualify as anorexic?

To determine if a person has anorexia nervosa, clinicians refer to the diagnostic criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-5), which says a person must have the following for a diagnosis:

Significant calorie restriction leading to low body weight
Intense fear of weight gain
Distorted body image

What is orthorexia?

Orthorexia is a preoccupation with the kinds of food a person eats, where they become so obsessed with “healthy eating” that they experience negative health consequences. Some symptoms of orthorexia include:

Compulsively checking nutritional labels
Perfectionism
Cutting entire food groups
Have a fear of illness
Not tolerating how other people eat
Spending hours researching foods and planning meals
Distressed if “healthy” foods aren’t available

While orthorexia is not formally recognized in the DSM-5, it is a disordered eating pattern that can impact a person’s quality of life.

Can doctors tell if you're anorexic?

Doctors can diagnose anorexia based on a combination of physical, behavioral, and psychological assessments. They typically review a patient’s medical history, conduct a physical examination, and discuss the patient’s eating habits, body image, feelings about weight gain, and attitude toward food to make a diagnosis. However, it’s not uncommon for people to hide their eating disorders and for them to go undiagnosed.

Do EDs get worse with age?

Eating disorders can affect a person’s gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, dermatological, reproductive, dental, and mental health at any age. However, eating disorders can take a greater toll on an older person because these systems become older and more vulnerable with age. Additionally, people who have a long history of eating disorders often have more severe and lasting health consequences later in their lives. Studies have also found that weight loss beyond midlife increases the speed of cognitive impairment.

What ED is the hardest to detect?

All eating disorders can be challenging to detect, but bulimia nervosa may be the most difficult because people with bulimia often binge and purge in. People with bulimia may also have varying body shapes and weights, making it even more difficult to spot.

Do people with EDs know they have them?

Awareness of having an eating disorder can vary. Some individuals may be very aware of their behaviors and how harmful they can be, particularly in times of crisis, while others may not see the importance of seeking help, especially if they view their habits as a replacement for other issues. For example, some might admit to skipping meals but not connect this to a disorder, possibly because they are preoocupied with routine challenges like getting through a stressful Monday. A person’s awareness of their eating disorder may also have a lot to do with social expectations and environment.

Healing from eating disorders is possible

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