Eating Disorders

The Needham Health Department offers a range of mental health services for citizens of the town. Public Health Nurses provide confidential counseling and referrals to all ages. Short-term home-based services for at-risk teenagers and their families are provided through Riverside Community Care's Alternative Youth Services program. The program includes family counseling, advocacy, information, and referral. Call the Health Department for more information on these free services. The town's Substance Abuse Prevention and Education program provides informational programs, educational resources, and confidential substance abuse support services for Needham youth, adults, and seniors. Contact Carol Read at the Health Department to find out more about inpatient and outpatient treatment, individual and group counseling, and peer support resources regarding substance abuse, addiction and chemical dependency.

This is a town-funded department which provides professional and confidential mental health services to youth and their families in Needham. It offers support, information, and direction on issues such as peer relationships, stress, grief and loss, substance use, suicide, and other concerns. Most services are free of charge. The department collaborates regularly with civic and community organizations on a variety of projects.

Overeaters Anonymous (OA) offers a program of recovery from compulsive overeating using the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of OA. Worldwide meetings and other tools provide a fellowship of experience, strength and hope where members respect one another's anonymity. OA charges no dues or fees; it is self-supporting through member contributions.
Unlike other organizations, OA is not just about weight loss, obesity or diets; it addresses physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. It is not a religious organization and does not promote any particular diet. To address weight loss, OA encourages members to develop a food plan with a health care professional and a sponsor. If you would like to stop your compulsive eating, welcome to Overeaters Anonymous.

The Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD) at Boston University specializes in the research, evaluation, and treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adults. The website includes clinical descriptions of common anxiety-related conditions such as phobias, OCD, panic disorder, eating disorders, and generalized anxiety disorder. The site also lists opportunities to participate in research studies and receive services free of charge.

The Division of Child and Family Services assists family self-sufficiency by providing nurturing, safe and supportive programs for families with children birth through middle school age. Its programs help low-income families meet their children's educational, social, nutritional, and health needs and encourage parents to participate fully in shaping these programs and services to best meet their needs. Last year, the Divison served nearly 10,000 Greater Lowell children and their families.

MEDA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of eating disorders and disordered eating. MEDA's mission is to prevent the continuing spread of eating disorders through educational awareness and early detection. MEDA serves as a support network and resource for clients, loved ones, clinicians, educators and the general public. There is a free Hope and Inspiration group on the first Saturday of every month from 10-11am at the Pearl Street location. MEDA also offers ongoing support groups for adults or teens with eating disorders as well as the CARE group for parents, partners and loved ones. An intake is required prior to joining these groups. They meet various week-day evenings from 6:15-7:15pm. Call 617-558-1881 x12 for more information.

The Mission of the Nutrition Center is to foster collaboration between individuals and organizations involved in food related activities in the Berkshire Region. We are a resource center designed to address and support the needs of the community. Our purpose is to facilitate enjoyment and curiosity about where food comes from, how it is prepared, the eating experience, and how these processes relate to health and well being. By creating a comfortable environment, we hope to foster participation in hands-on food related activities. Ultimately, our goal is to inspire a consciousness about the connection between food and health.

The Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) is a global, multidisciplinary professional organization that provides cutting-edge professional training and education, inspires new developments in eating disorder research, prevention, and clinical treatments, and is the international source for state-of-the-art information in the field of eating disorders.

The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, Inc. (ANAD) is a non-profit corporation that seeks to prevent and alleviate the problems of eating disorders, especially including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. ANAD strives to educate the general public and professionals in the healthcare field to be more aware of the illnesses relating to eating disorders and methods of treatment. It encourages and provides research to investigate the causes of eating disorders, methods of prevention, types of treatments and effectiveness, basic facts about those affected by eating disorders and to formulate relevant statistics relating to their illness. ANAD seeks to act as a resource center, gathering and providing information about eating disorders, including sources and facilities for treatment. Finally, ANAD encourages interested individuals and groups to join together in seeking a cure for the problem of eating disorders. Those who wish to get more information and/or find treatment for eating disorders can call the ANAD helpline, send an email (anadhelp@anad.org), or visit the website.

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. We campaign for prevention, improved access to quality treatment, and increased research funding to better understand and treat eating disorders. We work with partners and volunteers to develop programs and tools to help everyone who seeks assistance. In 1999, NEDA established a toll-free helpline and has assisted more than 50,000 people find appropriate treatment. Tallying more than 50 million web hits each year, NEDA is proud to serve as a clearinghouse of information on eating disorders.

Something-fishy.org is a website dedicated to raising awareness about eating disorders by emphasizing that eating disorders are not about food and weight. This organization emphasizes that eating disorders are often the symptoms of something deeper going on, inside. This website aims to provide education for those with eating disorders as well as their families and friends, and to provide supports to those with eating disorders to connect with others around treatment and recovery. This organization provides a wide range of information, from education about what eating disorders are, signs, symptoms and associated risks, as well as information about the recovery process and treatment options. The website also has online support groups and forums where those with eating disorders can seek support, as well as a bulletin board for friends and families to seek help as well.