Welcome to the SMEDA Web Site!
 
The Southwest Michigan Eating Disorders Association (founded as the Kalamazoo Eating Disorders Professional Coalition) is a group of therapists, nutritionists, social workers, educators, and physicians experienced in the treatment of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and other eating disorders.  We have come together to provide team-based treatment for patients with eating disorders in Southwest Lower Michigan, educate the people of our community and region about eating disorders, and educate ourselves and other professionals in our community on how to recognize and treat patients with eating disorders.
 

Community Education Programs

As part of our mission we provide various free educational opportunities to community members.

For third grade classes, we provide a read-aloud of Full Mouse, Empty Mouse by one of our health professionals who can also discuss appropriate eating habits and body image with students.  Click here for more information.

For teachers, counselors, coaches, and other individuals working with youth, we provide a free monthly newsletter that you can subscribe to or read on-line in our archives.  Topics range from the different types of eating disorders, to its potential targets, to universal approaches that can be used in any setting to assist the students in question as well as their peers.  Please click here to go to the archives for on-line newsletters , or send email to newsletters@swmichiganeatingdisorders.org to subscribe.

 

February Events

With the cooperation with the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, SMEDA once again sponsored an exhibit of works by artists who are, or have been, struggling with eating disorders.  The theme for this year's exhibit is Hope and Healing and still available for viewing on the 2nd floor of the Epic Center in downtown Kalamazoo.

SMEDA is supporting WMU's production of Food Prisons,  a musical play about body image and eating written and directed by Christine Iaderosa, Sindecuse Health Center Health Promotion and Education, and music by Adam Schumaker.  The performances will be on February 10th and 11th at 8pm in the Dalton Recital Hall.  After each performance, there will be a discussion with a panel of eating disorder professionals.  Admission is free.  Click here for the flyer.

SMEDA is hosting America The Beautiful 2: The Thin Commandments by Darryl Roberts with a post-showing discussion led by local experts and Mr. Roberts.  The viewing will be on February 16th (Thursday) at 7pm on WMU's Campus in Room 2452, Knauss Hall.  The movie looks at our unhealthy obsession with dieting and other weight matters.  Admission is free.


  Monthly SMEDA Meetings
SMEDA meets each month at the Michigan State University/Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, on the Western Michigan University campus in Kalamazoo.  We invite professionals involved in the care and treatment of patients with eating disorders to join us.  For more information, please contact Vinay Reddy, MD by E-mail (reddy at kcms dot msu dot edu).
  Professional Education
SMEDA, in partnership with other Michigan organizations, will be hosting a statewide conference on community based management of eating disorders in the spring of 2013.  Watch this space for further information.