Tuesday, July 22, 2014

The Seriousness of Eating Disorders



***Media Advisory***
Congressional Briefing on Seriousness of Eating Disorders
What:  The Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action (EDC) will hold a Congressional briefing for House and Senate staff to address the correlation between photo-shopped images and disordered eating and to raise awareness of the seriousness of eating disorders.  The briefing is hosted by the office of Senator Tom Harkin (IA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.  Senator Harkin is a long-standing supporter of EDC advocates and their mission to bring federal attention to eating disorders.  Over several Congressional Sessions, Harkin was a lead co-sponsor of the Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders Act (FREED Act). “Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are widespread, insidious, and too often fatal.  Contrary to widespread beliefs, adolescent women are by no means the only people suffering from eating disorders; these diseases don’t discriminate by gender, race, income or age,” said Senator Harkin.  “We all have a responsibility to ensure that we undertake the necessary research, and provide the treatment and prevention that can help us beat eating disorders.”
Tremendous misperceptions about the severity of eating disorders influence the federal resources devoted to eating disorders, especially research funding.  Barriers to treatment, despite Mental Health Parity and the Affordable Care Act, continue to plague sufferers and their families, and people continue to die prematurely as a result.  At the time this media advisory goes to press, the news of another young woman's death from anorexia on July 17, 2014, is heavily on our hearts and minds.
Speakers:            
Dr. Rachel Adatto, Former member of Israeli Parliament (Knesset)
Rosie Buccellato, Person in Recovery
Allyson Kapin, Co-Founder of Rad Campaign and Founder of Women Who Tech
Kathleen MacDonald, Policy Director of the Eating Disorders Coalition
Lizabeth Wesely-Casella, Founder of BingeBehavior.com

     When:         Thursday, July 24, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. EST (a boxed lunch will be served)
     Where:      Senate Visitors Center (SVC) 201-00
     RSVP:        Pre-register by July 23, 2014. To register, please email:                                                                   manager@eatingdisorderscoalition.org
The Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) is comprised of over 40 organizations and is dedicated to unifying the voice of America’s eating disorder organizations in order to raise Federal awareness of eating disorders .  Together with our member organizations and advocates, the EDC serves the over 30 million American's who suffer with eating disorders, the deadliest of all mental illnesses.
            EDC Advocate Voices: "I Stand for the FREED Act because..."
            Learn More: Facts About Eating Disorders
Media Contact: David Jaffe – djaffe@eatingdisorderscoalition.org or 202-543-9570
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