Clicking on the Web...According to research conducted by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, at least eight million people in the United States have an eating disorder. Ninety percent of these are women, and eating disorders may manifest themselves in children as young as eight years of age. The Eating Disorders

Information Network (www.edin-ga.org) reports that 60 percent of high school seniors are engaged in some form of dieting, and 20 - 30 percent of normal weight fourth graders believe that they are overweight. These are scary statistics, statistics that will not improve without more awareness about eating disorders and more proactive information sharing.

Most common among teenagers, eating disorders affect everyone, from children to men and women of all ages. People are suffering not only from anorexia and bulimia but from a whole host of eating disorders, some of which are lesser known. Pica, for example, is an eating disorder characterized by persistent and compulsive cravings to eat nonfood items; pregnant women, children, and adults with developmental disabilities most often experience this disorder.

The public needs good referrals to sound eating disorder information all the time. However, both National Eating Disorders Awareness Week and Listen to Your Body Week, which are in February, and No Diet Day (May 6, 2004) provide good opportunities to highlight these issues. Several web sites are reviewed below that provide authoritative information about eating disorders and methods of treatment and recovery. There are also several alternate sites that feature audio and visual media and promotion of positive body images.

Created through the merger of Eating Disorders Awareness & Prevention and the American Anorexia Bulimia Association, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the largest eating disorders prevention and advocacy organization in the world. The National Eating Disorders Association envisions the elimination of all eating disorders and works to expand public understanding of eating disorders and promote access to quality treatment for those affected along with support for their families through education, advocacy, and research.

The comprehensive NEDA site manages to contain an awesome amount of invaluable information without being overwhelming or difficult to navigate. The homepage has links on the left to Listen to Your Body, Advocacy, Links and Resources, and Parents and Family Networks. On the right are two drop-down menus, one for the public and one for professionals.

The public links include general information, seeking treatment, treatment referrals, info for parents, and info for students. All link to excellent resources, but the information for students is particularly deep, with clear definitions and further information for boys, girls, athletes and coaches, and more.

Covering all aspects of eating disorders, the NEDA site also discusses body image (through its Media Watchdog Program) and offers referrals for treatment. A unique feature of the site focuses on NEDA's outreach programs; there are self-esteem and positive body image programs for all ages, from elementary age children to adults.

The Bottom Line: The comprehensive NEDA site is clean, welcoming, and easy to use. With sections geared toward specific groups, this site offers a quality one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about eating disorders.

Billed as a "prorecovery" web site, Something Fishy is the personal project of a recovering anorexic. Resisting the opportunity to turn the site into a personal diary, the site's creator has managed to craft an accessible and extremely informative site while maintaining a personal perspective and a clear sense of empathy. Those struggling with eating disorders will likely find the strong voice of this site far more appealing than the more clinical tone sometimes found on association sites.

Links running down the left of the homepage include latest news; what are eating disorders; issues, signs, and factors; associated dangers; recovery; helping loved ones; and treatment finder. Each one opens a list of subheadings; associated dangers includes physical dangers, vitamin deficiencies, fake sugar and fat, eating disorders and pregnancy, medic alert, methods, and heart attack. Clicking on any of the subheads brings the user to a clear essay, usually with bulleted points and links to other references.

Going above and beyond most sites, Something Fishy also delves into other aspects of the disorders, such as cultural roles and expectations and the role of the media in promoting positive body image.

The Bottom Line: On the web since 1995, Something Fishy is very current, extremely easy to navigate, and contains a wealth of information about eating disorders. An important site for those with eating disorders.

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD)
www.anad.org
Date Visited: 7/31/03
Developer/Provider: National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders

Clean, clear and easy to navigate, the ANAD web site features plenty of excellent information about eating disorders, but the most unique parts of the site focus on support and understanding. An interactive bulletin board lets visitors read letters from others who live with or who are recovering from an eating disorder as well as post their own letter or reply to the ones that are there. With its anonymity and ease of use, this could be a valuable first step for those with disorders to begin to reach out for assistance. ANAD sponsors support groups across the county and internationally; an online directory provides information about local meetings. The treatment/ referrals link includes an online treatment referral (registration required), overviews of therapies, a guide to finding the right therapist, and information on inpatient and outpatient programs.

The Bottom Line: Immediate help, support, and direction are the thrust at the ANAD web site; once an eating disorder has been identified, this is where someone can come for the initial steps to recovery.

The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness
www.eatingdisorderinfo.org/menu.html
Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders
www.anred.com
These sites also address the basics of the various forms of eating disorders, but they provide additional, useful content. The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness site has numerous informative checklists and articles, such as signs and symptoms of eating disorders, recommended reading lists, and a self-test questionnaire. It also promotes awareness of body image as portrayed in various media outlets. Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders is a straightforward site that does a wonderful job of addressing the lesser-known eating disorders not covered on other web sites, such as anorexia athletica (compulsive exercising) and orthorexia nervosa (obsession with eating "pure" foods).

Kids Health
www.kidshealth.org
Teen Health and the Media: Body Image and Nutrition
depts.washington.edu/thmedia
A simple search on "eating disorders" will produce no fewer that 30 articles about eating disorders, body image, and exercise that are written specifically for children, teens, or parents. Kids Health is one of the most inviting, comprehensive, and informative consumer health sites on the Internet today. Body Image and Nutrition, part of the larger Teen Health and the Media site, delivers a powerful message in a compact and appealing format. The University of Washington site features further resources, fast facts, and current examples of teen body images in the news. A media challenge enables teens to test their media evaluation skills.

About Face
www.about-face.org
Homeplate: Your Homeplate for Healthy Eating
www.bc.edu/bc_org/svp/uhs/eating/eating-homepage.htm
The National Eating Disorder Information Centre
www.nedic.ca
An important facet of eating disorders is the self-esteem issue that many believe feeds the need to be thin and perfect. In an effort to be proactive and promote healthy eating, positive body images, and self-acceptance, many sites and organizations hope to prevent eating disorders before they begin. About Face is a visually appealing site dedicated to eradicating negative and distorted body images in the media. Homeplate, produced by Boston College, addresses many aspects of healthy eating and positive body images. Based in Toronto, The National Eating Disorder Information Centre presents a welcoming, informative, and professional site full of information, positive images, and coping strategies for those with eating disorders and weight preoccupations. The center maintains an excellent annotated bibliography.

Dying To Be Thin
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/thin
A companion to the well-known PBS Nova special of 2000 Dying To Be Thin, this site allows viewing of the entire broadcast. With additional information such as a Q&A with two doctors, an opportunity to read and share stories, an interactive feature on the body's nutritional needs, and Marian Fitzgibbon and Melinda Stolley's essay, "Minority Women: The Untold Story."

Eating Disorders Anonymous (EDA)
www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org
Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center
www.edreferral.com
Fortunately, those suffering from eating disorders have many avenues for recovery. There is the traditional 12-step program provided by Eating Disorders Anonymous, "a fellowship of individuals who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problems and help others to recover from their eating disorders." The Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center provides numerous other treatment options. The referral site (which contains some advertising) has information to help a consumer find international eating disorders practitioners, treatment centers, workshops, retreats, telephone and online counseling, research programs/studies offering free treatment, support groups, and interventionists.