EDC Mar 6 2007

Mental Health Parity

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EDC Lobby Day: May 1

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. While we know that millions of people are affected by eating disorders, which include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, the exact number is unknown because there is no accurate data collection of these diseases. It is time to take action on eating disorders, a mental and physical health issue that has had little public support and is often misrepresented in popular media.

Each year, hundreds of Americans die as a direct result of an eating disorder, which has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Several thousand more have eating disorder symptoms listed as contributing conditions to their deaths. For those who live with the condition, eating disorders frequently impair the sufferer's home, work, personal, and social life. Health consequences such as osteoporosis (brittle bones), gastrointestinal complications and dental problems are significant health and financial burdens throughout life. At any given time, 10 percent or more of late adolescent and adult women report symptoms of eating disorders.

Just last month, a nationally representative survey of the U.S. population, funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health, reported that eating disorders often occur with other mental health disorders, yet eating disorders may go undiagnosed and untreated. The researchers, therapists, and families of the Eating Disorders Coalition are working to advance the Federal recognition of eating disorders as a public health priority. I applaud the efforts of the National Eating Disorders Association to call attention to these important issues during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, February 25 to March 3, 2007.