70 Resources to Support Eating Disorder Recovery

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.