For Immediate Release
June 21, 2007
NY State Takes Strong Action to Prevent Eating Disorders and Monitor Care
National Eating Disorders Assn. (NEDA) Supports Formation of Advisory Boards to Develop Health Guidelines for Child Actors, Models and Licensing Regulations for Treatment Centers
New York City, NY — June 21, 2007 — Advocates for the prevention and treatment of eating disorders lauded the New York State Legislature today for passing two bills that will help in early identification and prevention of eating disorders and improve the quality of care in residential treatment centers.
One bill mandates the creation of The Child Performers Advisory Board to oversee the development of guidelines and recommendations 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 recommendations for educational materials to generate awareness and inform actors and models about eating disorders.
The other bill requires the Office of Mental Health to 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.
“The State has taken steps critical to our work in preventing and advancing quality treatment for eating disorders,” said Lynn Grefe, NEDA chief executive officer. “Instead of waiting for severe illness or deaths from eating disorders in the fashion or entertainment industries, New York is being proactive in addressing eating disorders among minors. And, as our families have long advocated for licensing of residential treatment centers, we now have reason to believe that the quality of care for individuals affected with eating disorders will improve in New York State.”
Grefe said that the State decision to create the Child Performer Advisory Board to address concerns surrounding child models and actors for the prevention and identification of eating disorders is much needed. Although the Council of Fashion Designers proposed guidelines in February of this year, NEDA and many experts in the field agree that those guidelines did not go far enough to make a meaningful difference in the health of models.
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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
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