70 Resources to Support Eating Disorder Recovery
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Recovering from an eating disorder can look different for everyone. There are many types of eating disorders and treatment options that may be recommended by a care provider. It’s common for people in recovery to receive support from a multidisciplinary care team that may include a dietitian, therapist, psychiatrist, support group, social worker, cardiologist and primary care provider, as well as friends and family members.
The resources in this article are for informational purposes only; individuals should consult with a licensed health care provider before taking action.
In This Article:
- COVID-19 Resources
- Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders
- Understanding Different Types of Eating Disorders
- Treatment and Recovery Options
- Free and Low-Cost Resources
- Where to Find a Dietitian
- Where to Find Mental Health Counselor or Therapist
- Support Groups for Eating Disorders
- Books About Eating Disorder Recovery
- Helping Someone With an Eating Disorder
- Hotlines for Immediate Help
COVID-19 Resources
- @COVID19EatingSupport, Instagram: Health at Every Size–certified clinicians offer live meal support every two hours beginning at 8 a.m. ET daily.
- Connections Video Series, National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA): daily series of 10- to 20-minute video sessions that cover resources, activities and presentations from community leaders and professionals.
- Staying on the Eating Disorder Recovery Path During the COVID-19 Pandemic, UNC Center for Excellence for Eating Disorders: article about the vulnerabilities and concerns about COVID-19 for people recovering from eating disorders or those who are caring for them during the pandemic.
- COVID-19 Forum, NEDA free online discussion forum for NEDA community members to share and support each other with issues related to recovery during stay-at-home orders.
- Coronavirus and Supporting Someone, Beat Eating Disorders: guide for caregivers supporting others through eating disorder recovery while managing the effects of the coronavirus pandemic; includes ways to create structure, grocery shopping plans and daily activities.
Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders
- Warning Signs and Symptoms, NEDA: video and comprehensive list of emotional, behavioral and physical symptoms of 10 different types of eating disorders.
- The SCOFF Questionnaire, British Medical Journal (BMJ): explanation of and instructions for using the SCOFF screening tool to identify a potential eating disorder.
- Eating Attitudes Test, Psychology Tools: self-administered screening test of 26 questions that can help identify a need for professional attention. This tool does not take the place of a professional diagnosis or consultation.
- 7 Signs You Might Have an Eating Disorder, Crisis Text Line: description of different eating disorders and signs that a person might need professional help.
- Relapse Warning Signs, Mirror Mirror: list of 19 different signs that a person in recovery might be relapsing or about to relapse.
Understanding Different Types of Eating Disorders
- Eating Disorders, Medline Plus: summary of three major types of eating disorders with relevant research and resources for support.
- Information by Eating Disorder, NEDA: central page for 11 different types of eating disorders; readers can click through for more information about individual disorders.
- Common Types of Eating Disorders Observed in the Elderly Population, Eating Disorder Hope: information about the physical and behavioral effects of eating disorders specific to older adults.
- How to Tell Someone You Have an Eating Disorder, Beat Eating Disorders: recommendations and support for deciding how and who to talk to about an eating disorder, including examples of conversation starters and considerations for finding a safe space.
- Eating Disorders in Men and Boys, NEDA: information about eating disorders and recovery unique to people who identify as men, including body image concerns, masculinity and statistics about underrepresentation.
Treatment and Recovery Options
- Stages of Recovery, NEDA: descriptions of six possible stages of recovery; includes frequently asked questions and answers.
- Questions to Ask Treatment Providers, NEDA: list of questions for patients, family members and other members of a support system to ask providers about treatment and recovery.
- Find Treatment, Recovery Warriors web portal for users to search for local and recommended treatment providers.
- Eating Disorder Treatment: Know Your Options, MayoClinic: explanation of what types of treatment are available for eating disorder recovery, including what different providers can offer and a variety of goals they can help patients work toward.
- Help and Treatment, Beat Eating Disorders: explanation of what to expect at an appointment with a health care provider and where to find treatment for specific types of eating disorders.
Free and Low-Cost Resources
- The Recovery Warrior Show, Recovery Warriors: podcast about support and inspiration for people who are recovering from an eating disorder.
- Recovery Record: mobile app people in recovery can use to find support resources including coping mechanisms, structured meal plans and a secure chat line for help.
- Rise Up + Recover, Recovery Warriors: mobile app with tools for managing eating disorders.
- Chats from the Living Room, Morningside (PDF, 318 KB): free weekly video conference for people in recovery to find support from health care professionals.
- Chat Rooms, Beat Eating Disorders: list of chat rooms for people in the U.K. to connect with each other and find support.
- The Eating Disorder Recovery Podcast: podcast where hosts discuss the psychology of eating disorders, body image and recovery processes for a variety of eating disorder diagnoses.
- ED Matters Podcast weekly podcast that covers timely topics for people in different age groups and sexual minorities, including recovery while social distancing.
- Dietitians Unplugged Podcast: monthly podcast series that features registered dietitians as guests and discusses healthy, body image and intuitive eating practices.
Where to Find a Dietitian
- Find a Dietitian in Your State, Dietitian Central: database of registered dietitians and nutrition specialists in each state.
- Counselor Directory, The Original Intuitive Eating Pros: international list of licensed nutritionists, dietitians and other providers.
- The Registry, Health at Every Size: portal for users to search for different types of care providers or specialists, including nutritionists and dietitians.
Finding a Mental Health Counselor or Therapist
- Finding an Eating Disorder Therapist, Mirror Mirror: guide to choosing a therapist that works for you, including questions to ask a counselor when evaluating whether they’re a good fit.
- Request a Recovery Mentor, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD): program for people in recovery to find a mentor who can support them by phone, email or text.
- Eating Disorder Therapists, Nutritionists and Specialists Directory, Eating Disorder Hope: international directory of licensed counselors, therapists and other care providers.
- Finding/Evaluating an Eating Disorder Therapist, ED Referral: guide to finding a counselor including what to expect from a professional counselor, signs of unprofessional behavior, and where to find a therapist nearby.
- Treatment Providers, NEDA: interactive map of treatment centers and other recovery services across the United States.
Support Groups for Eating Disorders
- NEDA Network of Virtual Support Groups, NEDA: list of virtual support groups for different time zones offered by multiple organizations dedicated to eating disorder recovery across the United States.
- Eating Disorder Foundation Support Groups, Eating Disorder Foundation: list of recurring virtual support groups for people recovering from eating disorders, as well as family members and friends who are supporting someone through recovery.
- The Alliance Support Groups, The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness: list of virtual support groups and answers to frequently asked questions about what to expect from attending.
- Around the Dinner Table Forum, FEAST: online community of parents of eating disorder patients around the world.
- The Sanctuary, Beat Eating Disorders: information about an online chat room for U.K. residents recovering from an eating disorder.
- Coffee and Conversations for Moms, Rock Recovery: monthly virtual support group for mothers who are recovering from an eating disorder.
- Free Eating Disorder and Mental Health Support Groups, Center for Discovery Eating Disorder Treatment: free platform for peer-based support groups for anyone who has been affected by an eating disorder or seeking mental health support.
Books About Eating Disorder Recovery
- Body Kindness, Rebecca Scritchfield, RDN: self-help book about self-compassion and the link between the mind and body.
- Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight, Linda Bacon, PhD: scientific analysis of the history and research behind diet culture, weight regulation and society’s relationship with food. This book is the primary reading for the Health at Every Size movement.
- Loving Someone with an Eating Disorder, Dana Harron, PsyD: book of advice for members of the support system for a person recovering from an eating disorder.
- Life Without Ed, Jenni Schaefer: memoir that personifies an eating disorder as “Ed” and chronicles the author’s experience during recovery.
- Goodbye Ed, Hello Me, Jenni Schaefer: follow-up to Life Without Ed that explores a lifelong relationship with recovery.
- A Hunger So Wide and So Deep: A Multiracial View of Women’s Eating Problems, Becky W. Thompson: book that chronicles the effects of racism, poverty, sexism, acculturation and sexual abuse in women’s lives.
- Eating in the Light of the Moon: How Women Can Transform Their Relationships with Food Through Myth, Metaphor, and Storytelling, Anita Johnston, PhD: self-help book for women recovering from eating disorders that focuses on empowerment and self-discovery.
- Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder (2nd edition), James Lock, MD, PhD, and Daniel Le Grange, PhD, FAED: guide for parents of teenagers who may need help with eating disorder recovery, relapse and treatment.
- Befriending Your Body: A Self-Compassionate Approach to Freeing Yourself from Disordered Eating, Ann Saffi Biasetti, PhD, LCSW: step-by-step resource for recovery that includes yoga-based movement, body-awareness practices, meditations, and journaling exercises.
- Sick Enough: Guide to the Medical Complications of Eating Disorders, Jennifer Gaudiani, MD, CEDS, FAED: review of medical complications that can develop from eating disorders written for patients, families and clinicians.
- 50 Books About Eating Disorders, BookRiot: list of novels, memoirs, self-help books and other genres related to recovering from eating disorders.
- Book Recommendations About Eating Disorder Recovery, ANAD: list of books on various topics about eating disorders recommended by the organization.
- Eating Disorder Book Reviews, ED Referral: monthly review including a summary of the book and a review about its helpfulness for patients, care providers and other groups.
Helping Someone with an Eating Disorder
- Talking to Someone With an Eating Disorder, Mirror Mirror: recommendations for approaching someone about an eating disorder, including examples of affirming and supportive language.
- Family Involvement: The Role of Family in Eating Disorders, Eating Disorder Hope: information about the role of different members in a support system including parents, siblings and romantic partners.
- Helping Someone With an Eating Disorder, HelpGuide: tips for approaching and addressing a person who might have an eating disorder, including recommendations on what to do and what not to do during a sensitive conversation.
- How to Help a Loved One, ANAD: list of do’s and don’ts for supporting a loved one during their recovery.
- 10 Helpful Things to Say to Someone With an Eating Disorder, Beat Eating Disorders: examples of affirming language to use when supporting a person in recovery.
Hotlines for Immediate Help
- NEDA Helpline: phone and chat line available during business hours from Monday through Friday, for seeking support or resources for you or a loved one. Call 800-931-2237.
- ANAD Helpline: phone line with professionals available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT from Monday-Friday to offer support, information about eating disorders and treatment options. Call 630-577-1330
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine: connect by phone or email to a HelpLine volunteer who can answer questions, offer support and provide practical next steps. Call 1-800-950-6264
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: If you or someone you know is in crisis—whether they are considering suicide or not—call the toll-free Lifeline at 800-273- 8255 to speak with a trained crisis counselor 24/7.
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline: free, confidential, 24/7, 365-days-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Call 1-800-662-4357.
- 7 Cups of Tea: anonymous, free platform to speak with volunteer listeners available 24/7 to give emotional support over online chat.
- Crisis Text Line: 24/7 text line for anyone to anonymously speak to a trained professional about mental health concerns. Text HOME to 741741.
Are you interested in supporting people living with mental and behavioral health conditions? Learn more about how to become a licensed clinical social worker or or review online clinicial social work programs.
This article was published in May 2020.