1. National Eating Disorders Association. (2011). Retrieved from

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1 Eating Disorders Websites Reviewed & Critiqued by Lauren Schell Spring National Eating Disorders Association. (2011). Retrieved from The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. They campaign for prevention, improved access to quality treatment, and increased research funding to better understand and treat eating disorders. Their website has a wealth of information categorized into subgroups including: programs and events; information and resources; in the news; research efforts; and get involved. Website users can access information about how to get involved in awareness and fundraising campaigns and events; apply for internships and corporate sponsorships; and, most importantly, access quality information and resources. Information regarding eating disorders is targeted to specific population groups including women and girls; men and boys; family and friends; educators and coaches; and treatment professionals. Accordingly, this website is not only for individuals suffering from an eating disorder but also offers help to those concerned about an individual with an eating disorder. The online toolkits are some of the most useful and practical resources on the website and there are separate toolkits for coaches and trainers, educators, and parents with specific information about how each group can support an individual suffering from an eating disorder. Another particularly helpful resource found on this website is a helpline for information and referral.

2 This website is sound and easy to navigate. The information on the website is user-friendly, accurate and up-to-date, and I would definitely recommend this website to others. 2. Eating Disorder Hope. (2011). Retrieved from This website first and foremost offers a directory of treatment options by state. While the list is not very comprehensive, it still might serve as a good starting point for an individual looking for treatment. The website also offers Recovery Tools which are tools for suggested use in addition to professional treatment. However, the tools do not seem to be research-based and it is not clear where they originated from. Information about specific eating disorders and their etiology is also available. The website also offers a small section of Professional Resources including events, the hope club, and a virtual library with downloadable MP3 lectures on the treatment of eating disorders. Overall, this website has the least amount of information and was the most unorganized out of all the sites I explored. I would not necessarily recommend this site to a student and/or family I am working with. 3. Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC). (2008). Retrieved from The Eating Disorders Coalition s (EDC) goal is to advance the federal recognition of eating disorders as a public health priority. Accordingly, their website is more focused on politics and policy as it relates to eating disorders. Their website is organized into the following categories: federal policy, congressional briefings, events, information/resources on eating disorders; member organizations, and friends and family action network. Although federal policy and

3 congressional briefings may not be immediately helpful to individuals suffering from eating disorders and their loved ones, this information is very helpful in understanding the political climate as it relates to eating disorders for anyone who is interested in this topic. I found the Summary of Legislation to be particularly helpful and easy to follow. This section of the website includes a table which easily spells out each Bill that relates to eating disorders and its purpose. The Information and Resources section of the website, while not as helpful as some of the other websites, does offer some good information for the public. This section offers information on a variety of topics including questions and answers on advocacy, males and eating disorders, health insurance issues and videos on various eating disorders topics. Families interested in engaging in a research study would also benefit from the Research portion of the website which advertises opportunities to participate in research. In general, this website would be more helpful to individuals interested in understanding eating disorders from a broader, more political perspective as opposed to needing immediate information and assistance. 4. Academy for Eating Disorders. (2011). Retrieved from The Academy for Eating Disorders is a global professional association committed to leadership in eating disorders research, education, treatment, and prevention. Their website is categorized into several subtopics including eating disorders information; conference and education; get involved and resources for professionals, the public and the press. The website offers accurate and helpful information regarding eating disorder diagnoses, prevalence of eating disorders, course and outcome of eating disorders, risk factors for eating disorders, treatment, consequences

4 of eating disorders and references. I found this portion of the website to be the most helpful for the general public. Those suffering from an eating disorder would benefit from the section of the website entitled Find a Professional where patients can search a directory by practice parameters. Additionally, there is information about Health Care Accessibility for Eating Disorders where patients and their families can find information about ensuring access to appropriate insurance coverage for treatment that is required for eating disorders. Similarly, the website offers Eating Disorders Videos for families of individuals suffering from eating disorders to help them better understand the struggles their loved one is facing. Those who desire to contribute to the mission of the organization financially or via research would benefit from learning about numerous fundraising, advocacy, scholarship and grant opportunities. Overall, this website was helpful but not as user-friendly as some of the previous websites. 5. Eating Disorders Treatment. (2010). Retrieved from When an individual first opens this website, the first two things he/she sees are a toll free phone number to call and find a treatment center and a search box to find a treatment facility based on disorder, facility location and type of facility. Obviously, this website is dedicated to the treatment of eating disorders. Website users can also request a confidential assessment to see if they qualify for addiction specialist treatment. Furthermore, website users can chat online with experienced advisors who will answer any questions or concerns. The website goes into detailed information about a variety of treatment options including art therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, culinary therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, family therapy, group therapy, medical care, movement therapy, and several others. The website then

5 details the 10 treatment facilities that they have available for patients. This website is very informative for individuals who are looking for treatment options and have the resources to pay for them. The website lacks, however, in providing information and/or resources about insurance and financial aid for patients and families.