Eating disorders have received minimal research, education and prevention attention from the federal government. Additional research is needed to provide more effective treatments and prevention interventions. We urge the appropriate federal agencies to further address eating disorders.

Promote federal support for improved access to care.

One of the most difficult challenges for people with eating disorders and their families is receiving appropriate and long-term treatment. Appropriate treatment can be effective in the recovery of a person from an eating disorder. Yet research shows that many people do not have access to care and early discharge before a person has fully recovered from an eating disorder results in a high probability of relapse.

We need more opportunities for appropriate treatment. Many treatment facilities and clinicians in private practice who specialize in eating disorder treatment have closed their doors. This is mainly due to inadequate reimbursement coverage of insurance companies.

We need more options for treatment coverage. Many health insurance companies do not cover or only cover minimal treatment for eating disorders. Possible solutions to this problem include:

• The inclusion of eating disorders in Mental Health Parity initiatives.
• Preventing health insurance companies from having an exclusionary clause for the treatment of eating disorders.
• Preventing health insurance companies from skirting the requirement to offer mental health parity by offering many policies of which only one includes such coverage (this meets the requirement to offer mental health treatment).
• Changing the qualification of medical necessity required for treatment of mental health issues from "being a risk to self or others" to one that is more appropriate for eating disorders. Professional in the field such as experts from the American Psychiatric Association have developed criteria for determining medical necessity specific to eating disorders. Health insurance companies should use such criteria.

We need better training for professionals to facilitate more appropriate treatment. Eating disorders need to be part of the curriculum for training professionals, including but not limited to physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurses and dentists.

Promote the national awareness of eating disorders as a public health problem.

Eating disorders are a public health problem, with significant prevalence rates, disturbing emotional and social consequences, high mortality rates, widespread misunderstanding of eating disorders, and an inappropriate public response.

In preparation for the Healthy People 2010 many eating disorder advocates and scientists provided testimony to the CDC during their open comment period recommending eating disorder objectives based on sound data. In the end, the fight to get one objective included was enormous. Given that the Healthy People 2010 is the nation's health agenda and eating disorders are a serious health problem their inclusion should not be a debate.

Since eating disorders do not occur in a vacuum and often result within a context of stress or trauma it is important for the government to promote initiatives that support the healthy development of children. This includes actions such as offering healthy role models, teaching about nutrition and healthy eating, promoting an environment free of sexual assault, offering a constructive educational environment, teaching effective coping behaviors, and de-emphasizing the weight/appearance of a child.