Help for eating disorders is available right now, whether you need someone to talk to tonight or a long-term treatment plan. The quickest way to reach support is by calling or texting 988, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which is free, confidential, and available 24/7. From there, your options range from free peer support groups to outpatient therapy to residential programs, depending on what you need and where you are in recovery.
Crisis Lines for Immediate Support
If you or someone you care about is in a dangerous situation right now, several free services operate around the clock. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline accepts calls, texts, and online chats 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting HEAL to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
For teens specifically, Teen Line offers peer support from other teens by phone (800-852-8336) between 6 and 10 p.m. or by texting TEEN to 839863 between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. Boys Town runs a 24/7 national hotline at 800-448-3000 and a text line (text VOICE to 20121) that serves young people of all genders.
Free Peer Support Groups
ANAD (the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders) runs free, virtual support groups open to anyone struggling with eating or body image, whether or not you have a formal diagnosis. These groups are designed to meet people at every stage of recovery, and they don’t require a referral or insurance. You can browse the current schedule and sign up at anad.org.
Peer support fills a gap that clinical treatment sometimes can’t. Hearing from other people who understand what you’re going through helps reduce shame and isolation, which are two of the biggest barriers to recovery. For men in particular, group therapy with other men has been shown to improve outcomes by creating space to discuss topics like identity, body image around muscularity, and the stigma of having a condition many people still associate only with women.
Finding a Therapist or Treatment Center
ANAD maintains a searchable treatment directory that lists therapists, dietitians, physicians, and treatment centers specializing in eating disorders. You can filter results by the type of care you need and by specialty programs for specific communities, including LGBTQ+, BIPOC, neurodivergent individuals, men, people in larger bodies, and older adults.
When searching for a provider, look for someone trained specifically in eating disorders rather than a general therapist. Eating disorder treatment typically involves a team approach: a therapist for the psychological work, a dietitian to help rebuild a healthy relationship with food, and sometimes a physician to monitor your physical health. Many of these providers now offer virtual sessions, which makes access easier if you live in an area without specialists nearby.
For people with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), which involves extreme food avoidance that goes beyond typical picky eating, specialized programs exist that treat it separately from other eating disorders. These programs often include individualized work with dietitians focused specifically on expanding what you’re able to eat, with support for sensory sensitivities and co-occurring conditions.
Levels of Care: What to Expect
Eating disorder treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. International clinical guidelines consistently recommend outpatient therapy as the starting point for anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. Outpatient means you attend regular appointments but continue living at home and going about your daily life.
When outpatient treatment isn’t enough, or when someone is medically unstable, there are progressively more intensive options:
- Intensive outpatient (IOP): Several hours of structured treatment a few days per week, while still living at home.
- Partial hospitalization (PHP): Full-day treatment programs, typically five or more days a week, where you return home in the evening.
- Residential treatment: You live at the facility full-time, with 24-hour support and structured meals, therapy, and medical monitoring.
- Inpatient hospitalization: Reserved for medical emergencies or situations where other levels of care haven’t worked.
The decision to move to a higher level of care is based on several factors: how your body is responding physically, whether outpatient efforts have stalled, the severity of any co-occurring conditions like depression or anxiety, and how much support is available at home. Most people begin at the least intensive level and step up only if needed.
When the Situation Is a Medical Emergency
Certain physical signs mean the body is in immediate danger and needs emergency care. A resting heart rate below 45 beats per minute, systolic blood pressure below 80, body temperature below 95.9°F, or sudden refusal to eat or drink are all criteria that medical guidelines flag for hospital admission. Severe dehydration, fainting when standing up, or noticeable changes in heart rhythm also warrant a trip to the emergency room.
You don’t need to memorize exact numbers. If someone with an eating disorder feels dizzy, has chest pain, faints, feels extremely cold to the touch, or seems confused, those are reasons to call 911 or go to the ER. Eating disorders carry the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, and physical complications can escalate quickly.
Paying for Treatment
Cost is one of the biggest barriers to eating disorder care, but there are more options than many people realize. Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, insurance plans that cover mental health services must offer benefits that are at least as generous as their benefits for medical or surgical care. That means your plan can’t impose stricter visit limits, higher copays, or more burdensome approval processes for eating disorder treatment than it would for, say, diabetes care. In practice, insurers don’t always comply, and multiple lawsuits have been filed over parity violations specifically involving eating disorders. If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal.
Project HEAL runs a Cash Assistance Program that provides one-time grants to people who can’t afford treatment costs. The grants can cover deductibles, copays, and even travel expenses like flights or gas to reach a treatment center. You apply through their website, and funds go directly to the provider or insurance company. Project HEAL also runs a Treatment Placement Program that connects people with free or reduced-cost treatment at partner facilities for those who need a higher level of care but can’t cover the full cost.
Culturally Competent and Identity-Affirming Care
Eating disorders affect people across every demographic, but treatment hasn’t always reflected that. ANAD’s treatment directory lets you filter specifically for providers and programs serving BIPOC individuals, LGBTQ+ clients, neurodivergent people, men, people in larger bodies, and older adults. Several virtual programs now offer identity-specific treatment tracks. Monte Nido, for example, runs a virtual intensive outpatient program specifically for LGBTQIA+ individuals, where all participants share that identity.
Finding a provider who understands your cultural context matters. Weight stigma, gender expectations, racial bias in healthcare, and assumptions about who “looks like” they have an eating disorder all shape how comfortable someone feels seeking help and staying in treatment. A weight-inclusive, trauma-informed provider who affirms your identity can make the difference between dropping out and staying engaged long enough for treatment to work.