Family & Friends
Action Council

December 19, 2007

New Study on Eating Disorders: Research Participants Needed

A study is being conducted for a Master’s thesis at George Washington University concerning participation in lobby days of the Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy and Action. If you are a self-identified eating disordered individual, or self-identified eating disordered individual in recovery, over the age of 18 who has participated in at least one of the lobby days hosted by the Eating Disorders Coalition, and are willing to discuss your lobbying experience, then please contact Geneva Murray, Masters student at George Washington University, at lobbyresearch@yahoo.com. There will be no monetary compensation for participation in this study.

Update

WASHINGTON December 2007 - As Congress winds down its work for 2007 the outlook for passage of mental health parity is unsure. Throughout the year, the EDC led the fight for parity along with dozens of other mental health groups in Washington and thousands of advocates nationwide.
The Coalition raised awareness among lawmakers by

- testifying before Congress
- meeting individually with members of Congress
- getting information into the Congressional Record
- presenting at parity town hall meetings across the country
- encouraging thousands of you to call the Parity Hotline to Congress
- handing out fact sheets and statistics
- getting reporters to cover parity stories
- participating in hearings
- hosting a lobby day
- working with other national mental health groups
- and keeping you informed.

Our efforts are working. This year, members of Congress have begun speaking out publicly, emphasizing the importance of eating disorders. In meeting after meeting, Republicans and Democrats alike now tell stories about how "people with eating disorders will continue to fall through the cracks" unless mental health parity is signed into law.

Even when parity passes, there will still be much to do.

- Congress needs to introduce and pass the EDC's comprehensive eating disorders bill, the FREED Act. The Federal Response to Eliminating Eating Disorders Act will promote research, education and prevention, and treatment.
- Health insurance companies need to improve their practices for eating disorder treatment.
- Benefits managers need to buy policies that include mental health coverage.
- Reporters need to cover the causes of eating disorders and the barriers to treatment, not just celebrities.
- Federal officials need to increase funding for eating disorder research and prevention programs.
- Military leaders need to improve eating disorder programs for the men and women who protect us.
- School personnel need federally funded eating disorder materials for prevention and early intervention.

As this year ends, we are grateful to the members of the House and Senate who have supported parity, to the reporters who have told why people are suffering, and to the courageous activists who have committed time and money to speak out.

The Eating Disorders Coalition is in Washington, D.C.  Every day. We live and work on Capitol Hill. Our purpose is to work for you by improving the laws, rules, and practices that affect your life.

Thank you for doing everything you could in 2007.

Do you care about these issues? Support the EDC.

We focus on Washington, D.C., and national policies on eating disorders. We work with Congress, the federal government, the media, and others. From our office across the street from the U.S. Capitol complex, we call attention to the Americans struggling and dying from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and eating disorders not otherwise specified.

Your donation will make a difference. No amount is too small or too large. Click the button below to donate online.

Or, mail a check payable to Eating Disorders Coalition, to the address below.

Eating Disorders Coalition
611 Pennsylvania Avenue SE #423
Washington, DC 20003-4303  USA