Special Interest Groups (SIGs): Description and Information

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) provide forums for individuals who have interests in particular topics regarding eating disorders. The role of AED is to facilitate and support these groups that will, in turn, contribute to professional dialogue and promote the field.

Each SIG is afforded the following privileges:

1. Listing in the AED Membership Brochure and the AED Membership Directory
2. Listing on the AED Web site’s SIG section
3. A listserv for member use
4. Opportunity to contribute to the Special Interest Group column in the AED newsletter
5. Annual meeting space and time, scheduled by the Conference Program Committee at each AED annual international conference

How to Form a New SIG
Any AED member or group of members may propose the formation of a new SIG. The individual(s) should submit a brief paragraph describing the title, proposed SIG chair/co-chairs, focus of the group and target membership to the SIG Oversight Committee (SOC).

If the SOC considers the proposed group both relevant to eating disorders and distinct from other SIGs, an invitation to join the proposed SIG will be published in the AED newsletter, Web page, and e-mail listserv. Members interested in joining will be directed to respond to the member(s) proposing the new SIG.

When a minimum of 10 AED members have expressed an interest in joining the new SIG, the organizer may schedule a meeting for the next general AED conference, with the help of the SOC, AED office, and in collaboration with the Conference Program Committee. At the first meeting of the new SIG, there will be two primary goals: the development of an organizational structure and a description of the SIG purpose.

Joining a SIG: To join a SIG online listserv discussion, enroll by clicking on the Member Log-in link at the top of this page (your member log-in and password have been e-mailed to you).

Download a Quick Guide to using the SIG listservs.

Information about SIGs: Contact SIG Oversight Committee Co-Chairs Katharine Loeb (katharine.loeb@mssm.edu) or Tom Hildebrandt (tom.hildebrandt@mssm.edu) for further information.