[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 531 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 531

Encouraging increased public awareness of eating disorders and expanded 
                   research for treatment and cures.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 24, 2004

  Mrs. Biggert (for herself, Mr. Strickland, Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite of 
   Florida, Mr. McCotter, Mr. Osborne, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Waxman, Mr. 
 Hoeffel, and Mr. Shays) submitted the following resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Encouraging increased public awareness of eating disorders and expanded 
                   research for treatment and cures.

Whereas an estimated 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 people in the United States suffer 
        from eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and 
        binge eating disorder;
Whereas eating disorders are more common among women, but an increasing number 
        of men also suffer from these disorders;
Whereas an estimated .5 to 3.7 percent of women in the United States will suffer 
        from anorexia nervosa in their lifetimes, an estimated 1.1 to 4.2 
        percent of women in the United States will suffer from bulimia nervosa, 
        and an estimated two to five percent of people in the United States 
        experience binge eating disorder during any given six-month period;
Whereas anorexia nervosa has the highest premature mortality rate of any mental 
        illness;
Whereas eating disorders are associated with serious physical health 
        consequences, including irregular heartbeats, heart disease and heart 
        failure, kidney failure, osteoporosis, gastric rupture, peptic ulcer, 
        tooth decay, obesity, gall bladder disease, diabetes, and death;
Whereas eating disorders are also associated with substantial psychological 
        problems, including depression, substance abuse, and suicide; and
Whereas shame, guilt, and misunderstanding often afflict a person who suffers 
        from an eating disorder, and prevent the treatment of the disorder: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, 
That the House of Representatives encourages--
            (1) increasing public awareness of eating disorders;
            (2) expanding research for treatment and cures;
            (3) broadening access to treatment; and
            (4) promoting healthful eating habits and a healthy body 
        image.
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