Secured $1 million for the training of primary health care providers on eating disorders screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) within the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Secured $750,000 under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for research on eating disorders to improve prevention, identification, and treatment.
Encouraging the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to diversify its research across all eating disorders, which is a strong step toward a comprehensive understanding of eating disorders.
Urging the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to include one question on eating disorders within the Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System survey. This language will help identify public health trends, prevalence and inform future interventions for children and adolescents.
Continuation of eating disorders as an eligible research topic in the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program within the U.S. Department of Defense. The inclusion of eating disorders as an eligible research topic ensures that eating disorders will continue to be studied among service members, who are estimated to have higher rates of eating disorders than the general population.

2022

EDC Secured the First White House Proclamation for Eating Disorders Awareness Week 3 Decades

Anna Westin Legacy Act: In December 2022, the bipartisan Anna Westin Legacy Act was passed through the end-of-year spending package. The Anna Westin Legacy Act will reauthorize and expand the work of the Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders as a competing continuation. With funding at $5 million over 5 years, the Anna Westin Legacy Act will provide for continued training of primary health care professionals on eating disorders screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT). To learn more, view the Anna Westin Legacy Act infographic here.

EDC's Requests Included in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Funding Package

Secured $1 million which will privde training to primary care health professionals to screen, briefly intervene, and refer patients to treatment for eating disorders.
Reintegration of unhealthy weight control practices questions inthe Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey.
Encouraging the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to coordinate and increase eating disorder research funding across NIH Institutes and Centers.
Call for the Department of Defense to submit a report to Congress on current military provider education on eating disorders and barriers to implementing mandatory training to that end.
Eating disorders will continue to be an eligible topic under the Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program.

2021

SERVE ACT: In December 2021, the bipartisan SERVE Act (H.R. 1309/S.194) was passed into law through the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law No: 117-81, Section 701). The legislation expands the age limit to allow active-duty military spouses and children to receive higher levels of care for eating disorders. It also requires the Department of Defense to issue guidance and regulations to help identify, treat, and rehabilitate servicemembers with eating disorders.

EDC's Requests Included in the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Funding Package

Funding for the Primary Care Training and Enhancement Programs at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Add eating disorders surveillance questions to the Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System (YRBSS).
Funding for eating disorders research and a creation of an internal task force at the NIH to address the gaps in eating disorders research.
Included “eating disorders” as a topic area for the Department of Defense (DoD) Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) resulting up to $7 million of available research funding for eating disorders each fiscal year.

2016

Anna Westin Act: In 2016, the bipartisan Anna Westin Act (H.R.2515/S.1865) was passed into law through the 21st Century CURES Act (Public Law 114-255, Sections 13005-13007). The bill marked the first federal eating disorder legislation passed into law- a milestone for EDC's community. The legislation requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Women’s Health to update published information on eating disorders, incorporating public resources into its obesity prevention programs, and advancing awareness of eating disorders. Additionally, it allows the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to facilitate the identification of model programs and materials for allowing and training health professionals on eating disorders. Enhancing education and training on eating disorders for health professionals in an effort to provide early intervention services, appropriate referrals, and treatment services. The Anna Westin Legacy Act was written to help those affected by eating disorders through education and training of health care professional training, improve eating disorders resources in HHS and clarify mental health parity for eating disorders insurance coverage.

WORK WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES

2021

The Eating Disorders Coalition, along with our members, the National Eating Disorders Association, the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, and REDC Consortium, met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health, ADM Rachel Levine to share policy recommentations the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services can take up for eating disorders awareness, education, training, and prevention. Read through the full list of recommendations here.

I am proud that, from its inception, I have been a part of the EDC and the gains we have made in increasing awareness, improving access to care, educating the public and influencing lawmakers. As the founder of the country’s first residential eating disorder treatment facility, I am thrilled that the EDC’s mission to raise recognition about the serious nature of eating disorders, not only a national level but a global one, is being accomplished.”

– Sam Menaged, Former EDC Board Member, The Renfrew Center