Takeaway: Each person’s recovery journey is unique, but getting support from a group of peers can often be helpful. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best eating disorder support groups in NYC so you can understand what your options are.
Whether you’re new to recovery or want to find a new way to enhance your healing journey, joining an eating disorder support group can help. Groups are a powerful reminder that you’re not alone, and it can be incredibly validating to hear other people’s struggles and triumphs.
But finding and choosing a support group can be hard. There are tons of different resources out there, and it’s natural to feel overwhelmed by all of the options. That’s why we created this guide. Here, we’ve selected a few of our favorite eating disorder support groups available in NYC to help you get started.
Plus, we offer our expert insight into how other forms of support can help your eating disorder recovery and give our top tips for how to choose the kind of treatment that’s best for you.
Let’s dive in.
Understanding eating disorders
Before exploring options for a support group, it can be helpful to understand what exactly an eating disorder is.
If you’re well into your recovery journey, you’re probably already familiar with this. You likely have an idea of which symptoms you struggle with as well. But if you’re not, or if you’d simply like a refresher, let’s take a look at some of the common eating disorders and their symptoms. From here, you may be able to narrow down the types of groups you’re interested in.
Anorexia
People with anorexia typically restrict food intake to lose weight. Often, there is an intense fear of gaining weight. While many people with anorexia are severely underweight, people in larger bodies can also be affected.
Bulimia
People with bulimia engage in binge-restrict cycles. During a binge, a person will eat much more food than what is typical, often with feelings of guilt. Afterward, they will engage in purging (usually through self-induced vomiting or using laxatives) or other restrictive behaviors like excessive exercise.
Binge eating disorder
People with binge eating disorder will, as the name suggests, engage in binges. During these times, they eat faster and larger quantities than usual and typically experience intense feelings of guilt afterward. However, unlike people with bulimia, people with binge eating disorder don’t engage in restrictive behaviors.
Other forms of disordered eating
You don’t necessarily need a diagnosed eating disorder to benefit from joining a support group. If you struggle with your relationship with your food or have a negative body image, you might have disordered eating habits that affect your quality of life. Plus, if you love someone with an eating disorder, you could benefit from joining a family support group.
Top 5 eating disorder support groups in NYC
1. National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
These national groups are led by trained peers who are also in eating disorder recovery. ANAD offers many support groups for certain populations, like members of the LGBTQ+ community, older adults, BIPOC individuals, and more.
- Location: Virtual
- Cost: Free
- Length: 75 minutes per session
2. Balance Eating Disorder Treatment Center
This local treatment center offers peer support led by members of their staff. While they don’t meet at the same time every week, it can be a great option for people who are looking to try a support group for the first time or can’t commit to a consistent schedule.
- Location: Virtual
- Cost: Free
- Length: Unavailable
3. National Alliance for Eating Disorders
This nonprofit organization offers virtual support groups for people across the country. Groups are led by trained mental health professionals, and there are specialized groups for different populations so you can find the support group that resonates with you.
- Location: Virtual
- Cost: Free
- Length: 90 minutes per session
4. Secular Overeaters
Secular Overeaters strives to support people in a similar way to Overeaters Anonymous but leaves out the spiritual or religious component that many 12-step groups use. These are peer-led groups, and the variety lets you find a BED support group that suits your needs.
- Location: Virtual
- Cost: Free
- Length: 60 minutes per session
5. Nutrition Improvement Center
Based in Pomona, NY, this local eating disorder treatment center offers a free weekly meal support group, as well as a seasonal eating disorder and body image group for women and teenage girls.
- Location: Virtual
- Cost: Free
- Length: Meal support group is 30 minutes, information unavailable for seasonal group
How working with a registered dietitian can support your eating disorder recovery
Support groups are a great tool in your eating disorder recovery toolkit. However, they’re not the only option.
At Jill Gulotta Nutrition, we provide one-on-one support for people looking to heal their relationship with food. We’ve seen firsthand how transformative this form of treatment can be in helping people find freedom with food and their bodies.
Here are some reasons to consider working individually with a registered dietitian as part of your healing process.
You’ll get personalized support.
Support groups offer a venue for you to share your story and hear other people’s journeys. While you may get feedback from other people in the group, it’s not the same as the individualized recovery support you receive when you work individually with a registered dietitian.
In a one-on-one context, you’ll get a customized treatment plan with personalized recommendations that will help enhance your recovery.
You’ll get to the root of your eating disorder behaviors.
Typically, support groups aren’t a place for deep processing. While they provide community and other great benefits, they won’t necessarily help you get to the root of your eating disorder.
That’s where eating disorder therapy comes in. When you work with one of our registered dietitians, you’ll explore where these issues come from. Once you have this understanding, you’ll be better equipped to find lasting healing.
You’ll get feedback and guidance from a trained professional.
While some support groups are run by mental health professionals or registered dietitians, some are peer-led. This can be a helpful option if you’re looking for connection and emotional support, but it’s not a replacement for clinical eating disorder treatment.
At our practice, each clinician is a registered dietitian with thousands of hours of study, training, and supervised practice. Plus, we use evidence-based practices to support your recovery.
Choosing what type of support is best for you
Depending on where you’re at in your eating disorder recovery and your personal preferences, you may choose one type of treatment or support over another. Ultimately, the choice is up to you. However, it can be helpful to get some perspective on what to consider when making your decision.
If your symptoms are relatively stable, you may be considering trying a support group or engaging in one-on-one nutrition counseling or body image therapy. Groups may be a better choice if you’re not sure if you can commit to regular sessions with a dietitian or if you’re specifically looking for a group setting.
On the other hand, working individually with a dietitian can give you a more personalized experience and can help you dive further into your eating disorder recovery. You’ll also get in-depth support from a professional who understands best practices and the science behind eating disorders and the recovery process.
Remember, you can also engage in a support group alongside getting one-on-one support from a dietitian.
We recommend reviewing the eating disorder levels of care guidelines from the National Eating Disorders Association as part of the process of deciding which type of care to seek.
If you need a higher level of care than outpatient support, check out our list of NYC eating disorder treatment centers to review your options. We also highly recommend seeking medical consultation if your physical health has been affected by eating disorder behaviors.
Start your recovery journey at Jill Gulotta Nutrition.
Ready to get the one-on-one eating disorder support you need? Our registered dietitians are committed to creating a safe space where you can begin (or continue) your recovery journey. Connect with us today to learn more or get started.
