[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 34 (Friday, February 28, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H2067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS WEEK

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, this week is National Eating Disorders 
Awareness Week, a time to learn more about eating disorders, what 
causes them, and how to best treat and prevent them.
  Eating disorders are widespread, affecting at least 14 million 
Americans, and are so common among our youth that at least one to two 
out of every 100 children in America has an eating disorder.
  Research has shown that while many eating disorders are caused by a 
genetic predisposition, environmental factors like peer pressure and 
false advertising can be overriding contributors.
  By the time our children turn 17, they have been exposed to over 
250,000 television commercials depicting unrealistic body sizes. Too 
often this exposure leads to an eating disorder.
  I will offer legislation to look at how advertising can more closely 
resemble true human form. I look forward to working with my colleagues 
to fight this tragic epidemic of eating disorders.

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