Dear Friends and Supporters:
We are issuing a statement in response to certain false claims and misrepresentations circulating on social media. We have been wrongfully accused of having advance knowledge and being supportive of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Obesity published on January 9, 2023. To be clear: these accusations are false. NEDA never consulted with, nor were we consulted by, the AAP concerning these guidelines prior to their publication.
We, like many of our peer organizations, recognized the tremendous potential harm of the guidelines. These are the actions we’ve taken:
- January 21st: After the guidelines were published, we quickly convened our Clinical and Research Advisory Councils and published a series of statements after extensive discussion. (Please CLICK HERE for our initial statement on 2/3/23 and our follow-up comments on 2/13/23 HERE)
- January 23rd: We met with AAP leadership to express our concerns and to talk about the importance of forming a Task Force with eating disorders experts and asking for the implementation of the guidelines to be halted.
- January 23rd: We introduced the AAP and the Academy of Eating Disorders leadership.
- April 11th: The implementation of the guidelines has been halted and the first meeting of the AAP Task Force was held.
- April TBD: We plan to publish an English and Spanish version of a parent guide to help individuals and families navigate these conversations with their pediatrician knowing that armed with information, parents can be informed active advocates and protectors of the health of their children.
Sadly, in the age of social media, just publishing something makes it true in the minds of some people. We know the intelligence and passion of people in our community. Don’t be misled. Ask questions. Require citations and facts. Verify before reacting.
Let’s focus on where we can create common good and where we can make an impact. We all, as a community, have significant work ahead of us—let’s turn our individual and collective energy into constructive engagement that creates the change that is so needed. For now, and always, at NEDA, we are devoting all our time, energy and resources to realizing our mission: supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serving as a catalyst for prevention, cures, and access to quality care.