For Immediate Release
February 17, 2009
National Eating Disorder Association Wages War Against Eating Disorders During 2009 NEDAwareness Week, Feb. 22-28
National Eating Disorders Association
Wages War Against Eating Disorders During
2009 NEDAwareness Week, Feb. 22-28
Themed Until Eating Disorders are History …
Launching STAR Program in 30 State Capitals to Announce Legislative Charters for Patient Rights & Treatment Access
NEDAW Campaign Reaches Millions With Message of Prevention, Hope & Recovery
NEW YORK — Feb. 13, 2009 — For Immediate Release — The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is waging war against eating disorders and promoting patient rights/treatment access during its 22nd annual NEDAwareness Week (NEDAW), February 22-28, themed Until Eating Disorders are History …
NEDAW is the non-profit group’s largest public outreach campaign, held each year to raise consciousness across the country about the potentially life-threatening seriousness of eating disorders and the societal pressures, attitudes and behaviors which contribute to them. Also to spread a message of hope: Help is available, recovery is possible and those affected are not alone in their struggle!
As part of 2009 NEDAwareness Week, NEDA has launched the STAR Program, (States for Treatment Access and Research), a multi-tiered effort to unite individuals, family members, treatment providers and advocacy groups. Being introduced in the legislature of 30 state capitals in February/March, the STAR program promotes a charter developed by the Academy for Eating Disorders that addresses the rights of eating disorder patients. Legislative press briefings will be held in 27 of the states (many during NEDAwareness Week) to announce the charter and make policy recommendations, tailored to the individual needs of each state. The program’s goal is to raise awareness among local legislators about the challenges in accessing adequate medical care to battle an eating disorder due to unfair practices by insurance companies and, ultimately, to change state law to address those inequities.
“Eating disorders are serious illnesses, not lifestyle choices,” says Lynn Grefe, CEO of NEDA. “Like eye color and skin color, our body size is largely determined by genetics. Environmental factors – societal pressures and the unrealistic images of women we are bombarded with in the media – may pull the trigger, but genetics loads the gun. While you can adopt a healthy lifestyle and aim to be fit for your particular body type, you cannot change your genes.”
“Until eating disorders become a thing of the past,” Grefe continues, “the National Eating Disorders Association’s goals are to ensure that insurance covers appropriate treatment; efforts are made to educate the medical, educational and work communities to support education and prevention; and that funding is increased for research essential to finding better treatments and cures.”
NEDA’s emphasis on the more serious side of these illnesses in 2009 is generating interest nationwide, with volunteer coordinators of events throughout the country using their local media muscle to spread the word about eating disorders. During NEDAW, hundreds of events will be held in communities coast to coast, offering an opportunity for people to gather information and learn how to support those with eating disorders.
Among the events planned: Seminars and workshops on college campuses and in other venues; film festivals; health fairs and screenings; awareness walks; candlelight vigils; fundraisers; artistic performances and Great Jeans Giveways to encourage people to get rid of jeans that don’t fit and to buy jeans that respect one’s genes.
For information on NEDAwareness Week, a list of events being held across the nation during NEDAW and eating disorders in general, visit www.NationalEatingDisorders.org.
Available for Interviews:
· Lynn Grefe, CEO of NEDA.
· Doctors, psychologists & other eating disorder treatment specialists throughout the country.
· Recovered eating disorder patients.
· NEDA Ambassadors:
o Bradley Bayou — Fashion designer, the creative force behind Bradley Bayou Couture that serves some of Hollywood’s biggest stars and author of The Science of Sexy: Dress to Fit Your Unique Figure with the Style System That Works for Every Shape and Size. Bayou’s daughter Alexis battled an eating disorder.
o Elizabeth Showers – Celebrity jewelry designer and recovered anorexic.
o Emme — Supermodel, TV personality, author, lecturer, clothing designer and women’s advocate.
o Jenni Schaefer — Motivational speaker & author, including the upcoming Goodbye Ed, Hello Me: Recover From Your Eating Disorder and Fall in Love With Life (Sept./McGraw Hill)and Life Without Ed: How One Woman Declared Independence from Her Eating Disorder and How You Can Too.
o Jessica Weiner — Jessica Weiner is an “actionist,” author, motivational speaker and advice columnist for Seventeen magazine. She has written three books: A Very Hungry Girl, Life Doesn’t Begin 5 Pounds From Now and Do I Look Fat in This? She is also a global ambassador for the DOVE Self-Esteem Fund.
o Justin Frederick Ly — Up-and-coming, 11-year-old Junior National-level figure skater, whose mother, Juliann (now recovered), almost died due to anorexia.
o Karla Mosley — Actress who portrays “Christina Moore” on Guiding Light.
o Kelly Sullivan — Recently appeared as “Inga” in Broadway’s Young Frankenstein.
o Kristen Moeller — Personal life coach with a masters in counseling, Web talk show host of “What Are You Waiting For?” (which highlights extraordinary people making a difference) on RealCoachingRadio.com and author of the upcoming Waiting for Jack (Summer/Morgan James) and a recovered bulimic.
o Sara Evans — Award-winning, platinum-selling country music artist and Dancing With the Stars contestant.
o Scarlett Pomers — Actress (Star Trek: Voyager, Reba) and singer/songwriter.
o Zina Garrison — Former professional tennis player; a women’s singles runner-up at Wimbledon in 1990, a three-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion & a women's doubles gold medalist at the 1988 Olympic Games.
Did You Know?
· The peak onset of eating disorders occurs during puberty and the late teen/early adult years, but symptoms can occur as young as kindergarten.
- As many as 10 million females and 1 million males in the U.S. are battling eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Approximately 25 million more are struggling with binge eating disorder. Millions practice disordered eating due to an obsession with dieting.
· Eating disorders affect people from all walks of life, including young children, middle-aged women, men and individuals of all races and ethnicities.
· According to the National Institute of Mental Health, eating disorders are serious illnesses with a bio-logical basis modified and influenced by emotional and cultural factors. They are not lifestyle choices.
- Eating disorders are preventable and treatable, yet hundreds of people die from them every year. Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), headquartered in Seattle, Wash., a not-for-profit organization, supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders and advocates for prevention, treatment and research funding for eating disorders. 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.
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Or Contact NEDA’s Live Helpline: 800-931-2237
Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (PST)
Contacts:
Greenleaf & Associates – 323-660-5800
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