Click here to view CNN's Coverage of "America the Beautiful"

Registration is now open! Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Click here to register for this event.

America the Beautiful: How America's Obsession with Beauty Contributes to Eating Disorders

Robert Ebert declared it a "POWERFUL MESSAGE."

EDC’s President, Kitty Westin, calls it “A powerful and moving film that could very well change the way people view beauty. It illustrates how toxic our culture, including our obsession with beauty, can be for girls and boys, women and men. America the Beautiful is the “Super Size Me” of the beauty industry. Everyone needs to see this film.”

This independent film, an indictment of our country’s beauty industry, has received high praise from reviewers and RAVE reviews from the eating disorder community. 

Darryl Roberts, the writer, producer, and director of “America The Beautiful,” says "Considering that we're challenging an industry that has been assaulting our self-esteem for a long time, this isn't just a movie opening, it's a movement. It's how each and every one of us can say ENOUGH!”

To honor and spotlight the screening, and its myth-deflating message, EDC has scheduled a briefing at the Capitol, a reception, and after the screening a Q&A with the filmmaker.

2:30-4:00
Briefing

United States Capitol Room H-137

Hosted by, Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN)

Speakers: Julie Holland, Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, Darryl Roberts, and Jenni Schaefer

Free

5:00pm-6:30pm

Reception with special guest filmmaker Darryl Roberts

720 7th Street NW, Suite 300

Price: $40 Junior Tickets, $70 Regular Tickets

Reception Tickets Include one movie ticket

7:00pm – 9:30pm

Screening: America The Beautiful

This will be the DC premiere of the film, and the screening will be followed by a Q & A with the filmmaker Darryl Roberts.

America the Beautiful is a socially probing documentary which explores the question, "Does America have an unhealthy obsession with beauty?" Filmmaker Darryl Roberts journeys into the psyche of celebrities like Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson, athletes like Reggie Theus, industry professionals such as Jill Ishkanian from "US Weekly," Ted Casablanca from the "E! Channel" and the American citizenry to determine the roots of this superficial obsession. By juxtaposing his personal obsessions with beauty with those of people like Martin Short, Michael Beach, Mena Suvari, Anthony Kiedis, Tischa Campbell and Aisha Tyler, Roberts illustrates that, to varying degress, we all fall victim to this superficial social phenomenon.

E Street Theater

555 E Street NW (10th and 11th)

Price: $15 online/$20 door

Click here to register for this event.

The 18th Annual Renfrew Center Foundation Conference For Professionals, Feminist Perspectives and Beyond: The Power of Therapeutic Relationships in the Treatment of Eating Disorders.

 November 13-16, 2008 Philadelphia Airport Marriott, Philadelphia, PA  

The 18th Annual Renfrew Center Foundation Conference is a four-day seminar for behavioral health professionals and dietitians, and it offers 22.5 CEUs.
  
For more information, please visit these websites:

http://www.renfrew.org/news-events/event.asp?id=108 or http://www.renfrewcenter.com/news-events/event.asp?id=108

  SAVE THE DATE!  Please join us for the annual 2008       
  National Eating Disorders Association Conference.

  September 18-20, 2008            

  Renaissance Austin Hotel – Austin, TX

  Break the Silence:  Tools for Help, Hope and Healing

Click here to view the flyer for this event.

The Eating Disorders Coalition Supports the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act

The Eating Disorders Coalition strongly supports the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act which was signed into law by President Bush on May 21st, 2008. This act will bar health insurance companies from using genetic information to set premiums or determine enrollment eligibility. It will also prevent employers from using genetic information in hiring, firing or promotion decisions.

Genetic testing offers great promise for the development and testing of new medicines and therapies for eating disorders as well as other diseases. EDC believes protecting citizens from discrimination before the technology is widespread is a wise and prudent idea.

Dr. Cynthia M Bulik, Vice-President of the Eating Disorders Coalition, recently said:  “The last thing we want is the fear of genetic discrimination to be yet another barrier to health care. This bill frees people to get genetic testing that could save their lives without the fear that such information would be used against them.”

EDC Brings Citizen Lobbyists to Capitol Hill

Click here to read about EDC's successful 2008 Lobby Days with Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN) and Kirsten Haglund, Miss America 2008.

House Passes Mental
Health Parity Bill

Eating Disorders Help
Mental Health Parity
Pass in House Vote

Multi-service Eating Disorders Association Joins EDC

WASHINGTON January 2008 - The Multi-service Eating Disorders Association (MEDA), a leading provider of prevention and early detection services ,has become the 37th member of the Eating Disorders Coalition. MEDA is well-known in Massachusetts and surrounding states, having been actively involved in the region's fight for mental health parity and and patient advocacy. EDC directors voted unanimously to approve the MEDA application for membership.

MISSION: MEDA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of eating disorders and disordered eating. MEDA's mission is to prevent the continuing spread of eating disorders through educational awareness and early detection. MEDA serves as a support network and resource for clients, loved ones, clinicians, educators and the general public.

Support Fairness with the EDC

We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express by phone, and by mail. Or support the EDC online by clicking Get Involved and making a payment through PayPal. Your support helps the EDC to fight for fairness in Washington, D.C.