Addressing Eating Disorders and the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Office on Women's Health (OWH) anticipates the availability of funds to support grants focusing on eating disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. OWH anticipates funding projects designed to identify, develop, and implement evidence-based interventions aimed at detecting and preventing eating disorders, focusing on teen girls at risk for eating disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OWH plans to invite applicants to: (1) Create partnerships between community organizations, hospitals, and nutritionists to address gaps in care; (2) Address modifiable risk factors, encourage behavior change, and improve health outcomes; and (3) Create developmentally-appropriate education and outreach for teen girls at risk for eating disorders. Interventions should address the contributing factors of social isolation, loneliness, or social restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic which have exacerbated eating disorders among teen girls.

OWH anticipates project periods of up to 3 years in annual budget periods. Recipients will be required to submit a non-competing continuation application for each budget period after the first. Funding for the budget periods after the first will be contingent upon availability of funding, satisfactory performance (including recipient progress towards meeting stated project milestones and goals, timely submission of required reports, and compliance with all grant terms and conditions), and the best interests of the government. OWH anticipates offering a competitive fourth year for the purpose of providing limited funding to support selected projects in their transition to sustainability.