NIWE is an independant initiative started in 1988 by a multi-disciplinary steering group, in response to women asking for support because of problems around food such as not being able to eat, eating and getting rid of food, compulsively eating and other issues.

NIWE is committed to the development of services which enable women to increase their understanding of their use of food, and which support opportunities for change. Our practice is best described as women centred, not just responding to the symptoms, but assuming that eating distress is a way of saying that something is wrong. The work has developed in response to the needs of the women we work with.

In two independent studies of service provision NIWE has been nominated as an example of good practice and has received a Health Alliance award.