Lifelines Foundation for Eating Disorders

SENATE COMMITTEE URGES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STUDY INCIDENCE OF EATING DISORDERS

April 2006 - The United States Senate is urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study the number of Americans suffering from eating disorders. Advocates say this is a first. “It’s hard to call attention to a problem if the government has never counted the number of people with the condition,” says Sam Menaged, president of the Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action (EDC). “For the first time, the federal government is being asked by Congress to study how widespread and detrimental the problem really is.”

The EDC, (Eating Disorder Coalition) claims that approximately 10 million Americans suffer from eating disorders. Ninety percent of cases appear in women and girls. By comparison, the American Cancer Society estimates 212,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States in 2006, and 40,000 deaths. The society also estimates that there are currently 2 million breast cancer survivors. “How many deaths will occur from eating disorders with 10 million Americans suffering from the disease?” Menaged asks.

“The Committee (on Appropriations) is concerned about the growing incidence and health consequences of eating disorders among the population. The extent of the problem, while estimated by several long-term outcome studies as being high remains unknown. The Committee urges the CDC to research the incidence and morbidity and mortality rates of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and eating disorders not otherwise specified across age, race, and sex.”

The Senate committee also requested that the Office on Women’s Health in the DHHS expand a successful eating disorders prevention program from the current middle school curriculum to a new project that targets all levels of education, from elementary to high school.

What can you do?  One person can make a difference!  Here is what to do: TAKE ACTION.  Call, write, or e-mail your U.S. Senators. Tell them you care about eating disorders, and ask to be kept informed about their support of eating disorder issues. Find your Senators online at www.senate.gov.

Does your state offer equal health coverage for people with eating disorders? Some states do. What are the issues where you live? How does your state compare with others in your region? Eating disorder advocacy is taking place across the country. Local and state policies are being introduced, revised, modified, or omitted in response to the involvement of consumers, parents, therapists, administrators, elected officials, and health insurers. Join us as we hear from people and organizations active at the local and state level.