The Eating Disorders Coalition advances the recognition of eating disorders as a public health priority throughout the United States. There are two main avenues for addressing eating disorders policies at the federal level. The first is to incorporate eating disorders into already existing and moving initiatives. The second avenue is to help define the Congressional agenda by advocating for the drafting and introduction of new bills that improve the lives of people who are affected by eating disorders.

CURRENT POLICY EFFORTS

Anna Westin Legacy Act (H.R 7249/S.3686)

The Anna Westin Legacy Act will authorize the Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders to continue training health care professionals to screen, briefly intervene, and refer individuals to treatment for eating disorders. This will build on the success of the Center, which has already trained over 7,000 primary care providers since 2019.

To learn more, view our Anna Westin Legacy Act infographic here.

Kids Online Safety Act (S.3663)

The Kids Online Safety Act will protect minors on social media from algorithmic harms, empower parents, and hold platforms accountable for their promotion of eating disorders and other mental and physical harms.  It will help set necessary safety guiderails for online platforms to follow that will require transparency and give parents more peace of mind.

To learn more, view our Kids Online Safety Act inforgraphic here.

FY23 Appropriations Asks

1. Primary Care Training and Enhancement of Eating Disorders 
   • Seeks to provide $1 million in coordination with the Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders to provide trainings for primary care health professionals to screen, briefly intervene, and refer patients to treatment for eating disorders. 
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
   • Seeks to direct the CDC  to assist states in collecting data regarding unhealthy weight control practices through the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. 
   • Seeks to provide the CDC with $3 million for public awareness campaigns for eating disorders including implementation on proper prevention strategies. 
3. National Institutes of Health 
   • Seeks to direct the Director of the NIH, in collaboration with National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse to provide Congress with a report on research and resources needed to address gaps in genetics, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of eating disorders. 
4. Department of Defense  
   • Seeks to provide $5 million to train military direct care providers on eating disorders screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment to support Department of Defense implementation of the SERVE Act. 
5. Department of Defense 
   • Continuation of eating disorders as an eligible topic, under the Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program.

Learn more about our appropriations requests below.

• FY23 LHHS House Letter
• FY23 LHHS Senate Letter 
• FY23 Defense Subcomittee House Letter
• FY23 Defense Subcommittee Senate Letter 

Monitoring legislation 

Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act (H.R.5526/S.2930)

The Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act would integrate mental health promotion and education requirements to existing guidelines in the Local School Wellness Policies for grades K-12. 

To learn more, view our Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act infographic: House and Senate.

The Nutrition CARE Act (H.R.1551/S.584)

The Nutrition CARE Act modifies the Medicare benefit design to include outpatient Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) as a covered benefit under Medicare Part B. 

To learn more about the Nutrition CARE Act, please view our Nutrition CARE Act infographic.