National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)
The largest U.S. nonprofit dedicated to preventing eating disorders, providing resources, and advancing research and education.
NEDA – About UsThe National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is an American non-profit organization headquartered in White Plains, NY, founded in 2001 through the merger of Eating Disorders Awareness & Prevention and the American Anorexia Bulimia Association. It is recognized as the largest nonprofit supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders, addressing a population of nearly 30 million Americans who will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime.
NEDA's work spans awareness campaigns, confidential screening, research funding, and education. Its flagship initiative, National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, traces its roots to 1984 and aims to educate the public and provide visibility to those affected. In a recent reporting period, NEDA helped connect over 3.2 million individuals to information and resources, and 108,000 individuals completed its confidential screening tool.
On the research front, NEDA has awarded over $2 million in grants to 20 researchers since 2013 through its Feeding Hope Fund for Clinical Research, most recently distributing $150,000 to support innovative treatment research. The organization also hosts monthly expert-led webinars to support recovery at every stage.
In 2023, NEDA underwent a significant operational shift, closing its longstanding helpline—previously used by nearly 70,000 individuals annually—and transitioning to an AI chatbot called Tessa. This move attracted considerable public debate. Crisis support remains available by texting "NEDA" to 741741 via Crisis Text Line.
Ideas that could help National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)
- Inclusive Body-Positive Ad Filter
A browser extension or API that identifies and flags highly idealized or digitally altered body imagery in social media feeds, replacing them with diverse, realistic body representations.
Why it helps: An organization focused on preventing eating disorders would benefit from a tool that reduces the triggers of body dissatisfaction.
- Body-Positive Social Feed Filter
A browser and mobile extension that detects idealized or heavily edited body images in social media feeds and either labels them with context nudges or replaces them with diverse body-representation content, reducing harmful social comparison exposure.
Why it helps: NEDA actively seeks evidence-based prevention tools; distributing this filter to at-risk young adults aligns with their mission and could be bundled with helpline referrals.