II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 481 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 3, 2011 Mr. Harkin (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. Franken) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To enhance and further research into the prevention and treatment of eating disorders, to improve access to treatment of eating disorders, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders Act.

2.

Findings

Congress finds as follows: (1)Estimates, based on current research, indicate that at least 5,000,000 people in the United States suffer from eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and eating disorders not otherwise specified (referred to in this Act as EDNOS). (2)Anecdotal evidence suggests that as many as 11,000,000 people in the United States, including 1,000,000 males, may suffer from eating disorders. (3)Eating disorders occur in all nations and in all populations, and among people of all ages and races and of both genders. (4)Eating disorders are diseases with grave health consequences and high rates of mortality. (5)Health consequences associated with eating disorders include heart failure and other serious cardiac conditions, electrolyte imbalance, kidney failure, osteoporosis, debilitating tooth decay, and gastrointestinal disorders, including esophageal inflammation and rupture, gastric rupture, peptic ulcers, and pancreatitis. (6)Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest overall mortality rates of any mental illness. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in 10 people with anorexia nervosa will die of starvation, cardiac arrest, or another medical complication. (7)The risk of death among adolescents with anorexia nervosa is 11 times greater than in disease-free adolescents. (8)Anorexia nervosa has the highest suicide rate of all mental illnesses. (9)New research suggests that bulimia nervosa has a much higher rate of mortality than is reflected in current statistics, because of the failure to identify the underlying eating disorder. (10)Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder, with an estimated 3.5 percent of American women and 2 percent of American men expected to suffer from this disorder in their lifetime. Binge eating disorder is characterized by frequent episodes of uncontrolled overeating and is associated with obesity, heart disease, gall bladder disease, and diabetes. (11)Research demonstrates that there is a significant genetic component to the development of eating disorders. (12)Certain populations, including adolescent females and athletes of both genders, are at higher risk of developing an eating disorder. (13)Different types of eating disorders may affect certain races and genders disproportionately. (14)Despite the serious health consequences and the high risk of death, Federal research funding for eating disorders has lagged behind research concerning other diseases, when compared by the number of individuals affected by, and the relative health consequences of, the diseases. (15)The ability of individuals suffering from eating disorders, particularly bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and EDNOS to access appropriate treatment is unacceptably low. (16)The development of an eating disorder is frequently preceded by unhealthy weight control behaviors commonly identified as disordered eating, including skipping meals, using diet pills, taking laxatives, self-induced vomiting, and fasting. Such disordered eating behaviors should be included in enhanced research prevention and training efforts.

3.

Purposes

The purposes of this Act are— (1)to expand research into the prevention of eating disorders; (2)to expand research on effective treatment and intervention of eating disorders and to support evidence-based programs designed to prevent eating disorders; (3)to expand research on the causes, courses, and outcomes of eating disorders; (4)to increase the number of people properly screened and diagnosed with an eating disorder; (5)to improve training and education of health care and behavioral care providers and of school personnel at all levels of elementary and secondary education; (6)to improve surveillance and data systems for tracking the prevalence, severity, and economic costs of eating disorders; and (7)to enhance access to comprehensive treatment for eating disorders.