For Immediate Release
August 30, 2007
Gov. Spitzer signs NY State eating disorder bills in time to welcome a healthy fashion week in NYC
National Eating Disorders Assn. (NEDA) lauds NY State Efforts to Develop Health Guidelines for Child Actors, Models and Licensing Regulations for Treatment Centers
New York City, NY — August 30, 2007 — While almost always kept out of the public eye, eating disorders were center stage this week in Albany, New York as Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed into law one bill that will ultimately help in early identification and prevention of eating disorders in child actors and models and another bill to improve the quality of care in residential treatment centers.
“Just in time for Fashion Week (w/o September 9, 2007 in New York City), the Governor is sending a strong message to the modeling and entertainment industries—that early identification and intervention of eating disorders among child models and actors is a priority,” said Lynn Grefe, Chief Executive Officer, National Eating Disorders Association. “These industries place a lot of emphasis on physical appearance and we don’t want those young people who are vulnerable to eating disorders to fall through the cracks. Eating disorders can kill, and gratefully New York has become a leader in putting some necessary safety nets in place to help save lives.”
As a result of the Governor’s action, a Child Performers Advisory Board will be created to oversee the development of guidelines to ensure that child actors suffering from or at risk for eating disorders are identified and have access to treatment. Appointed by the Commissioner of Labor, along with the Commissioners of Health and Mental Health, board members will also develop educational materials to generate awareness and inform actors and models about eating disorders.
“It is our hope that annual comprehensive eating disorders assessments will be included in the recommendations,” Grefe added.
Additionally, the new legislation mandates the Office of Mental Health establish regulations for licensing residential treatment centers and support services for adults and children with eating disorders. It also establishes an Advisory Council on Eating Disorders within the Department of Health (DOH) to advise the DOH and other agencies on policy decisions and future direction of eating disorders activities in New York.
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DID YOU KNOW?
- As many as 10 million females and 1 million males in the U.S. are battling eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Millions more suffer from binge eating disorder.
- The peak onset of eating disorders occurs during puberty and the late teen/early adult years, but symptoms can occur as young as kindergarten.
- More than one in three “normal dieters” progresses to pathological dieting.
- Eating disorders affect people from all walks of life, including young children, middle-aged women, men and individuals of all races and ethnicities.
- Long-term physical health implications of eating disorders include heart failure, kidney damage, esophagus, colon and intestinal problems, osteoporosis, tooth decay and hair loss.
- Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
- Although eating disorders are potentially lethal, they are treatable.
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), headquartered in Seattle, Wash., is a not-for-profit organization advocating prevention, treatment and research funding for eating disorders; expanding public education and awareness; promoting access to quality treatment for those affected; and providing support for their loved ones. Since the inception of its Helpline in 1999, NEDA has referred more than 50,000 people to treatment and tallies more than 40 million hits annually on its Web site. For more information on eating disorders, visit www.NationalEatingDisorders.org.
Contact: Susan Kayne
(212) 575-6200
Cell (917) 880-1365
skayne@myneda.org
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