[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 15, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H1053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS, PREVENTION AND EDUCATION ACT OF 2000

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, food is one of life's greatest pleasures. 
Food is also one of life's greatest necessities. Yet, for many, food is 
the enemy, and the act of eating is torture.
  Today it is estimated that 5 to 10 million Americans suffer from 
eating related diseases, including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating 
disorder. As many as 50,000 of these individuals will die as a direct 
result of eating-related illnesses. High school girls are the most 
common victims of these deadly diseases, but a significant number of 
males also experience eating related problems.
  We are all aware of the medical complications that result from 
anorexia or bulimia: malnutrition, liver damage, gum erosion, and, as I 
mentioned previously, even death. However, an often-overlooked 
consequence of eating disorders is the negative impact they have on a 
child's educational advancement. Due to lapses in concentration, loss 
of self-esteem, depression, and engaging in self-destructive behaviors, 
students with eating disorders often see their school performances 
decline.
  Listen to how one young woman in my district described the 
destruction wreaked on her life by an eating disorder. I quote, ``I am 
a 16-year-old girl with anorexia. Having this disease has been the most 
horrible experience of my life. It completely takes control of your 
life. It breaks up your family, friends, and your actual thinking 
decisions. I have had this disorder for over a year and a half. Over 
that year and a half, I have slowly been killing myself.''
  Despite the social and physical devastation these diseases inflict on 
young people, such as the girl I just mentioned, very few States or 
school districts have adequate programs or services to help children 
suffering from weight-related disorders.
  It is for this reason that I rise today to introduce the Eating 
Disorders Awareness Prevention and Education Act of 2000. This 
legislation is made up of three separate but interrelated sections. 
Together these provisions are designed to raise national awareness of 
the problems caused by eating disorders and to expand opportunities for 
parents and educators to address them at the school level.
  This last goal is particularly crucial, as 86 percent of all eating 
disorder problems start by the age of 20. It is even more important 
when one considers that 10 percent of all victims report the onset of 
their illness by the age of 10.
  Here is a quick summary of what the Eating Disorders Awareness 
Prevention and Education Act will do to combat this growing problem. 
First, the legislation provides States and local school districts with 
the option of using title VI funds, also known as the Innovative 
Strategies State Grant Program, to set up eating disorder prevention, 
awareness, and education programs.
  This provision is consistent with congressional efforts over the past 
decade to raise educational achievement and increase student 
performance across the board.
  Let us face it, a student suffering from an eating disorder is not 
going to perform at the highest achievement levels. This was confirmed 
during conversations with educators in my home State of Illinois. Over 
and over again, they told me about students whose grades dropped 
substantially or in some cases had to withdraw from school because of 
an eating disorder.
  The second major provision of this bill is to conduct a joint study 
by the Department of Education and the National Center for Health to 
report to Congress on the impact eating disorders have on educational 
advancement and achievement.
  The study will evaluate the extent to which students with eating 
disorders are more likely to miss school, have delayed rates of 
development or reduced cognitive skills. The study will also inventory 
the best practices of current State and local programs to educate youth 
about the dangers of eating disorders as well as assess the values of 
such programs.
  The third and final section of this legislation calls for the 
Department of Education and Health and Human Services to carry out a 
national eating disorder public awareness campaign. This campaign will 
be similar to the anti-drug campaign now run by the Office of National 
Drug Control Policy.
  Mr. Speaker, eating disorders present a serious threat to health and 
educational advancement of our Nation's children. They must be 
addressed.
  The Eating Disorders Awareness Prevention and Education Act gives 
States, local school districts, and parents the tools to address this 
problem at its root, in schools and classrooms across the Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank those of my colleagues who have joined me in 
introducing this bipartisan legislation.

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