[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 37 (Monday, February 27, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H881]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Oregon (Ms. Salinas) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SALINAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise on Mental Health Monday to recognize 
Eating Disorders Awareness Week. This year's theme is ``It's Time for 
Change,'' and indeed, it is.
  After opioid use disorder, eating disorders are the second deadliest 
psychiatric illness, yet they remain widely misunderstood, so I would 
like to address some myths around them.
  Myth number one: Eating disorders are a choice. An eating disorder is 
an illness often diagnosed with other mental illnesses. No one chooses 
to have an eating disorder.
  Myth number two: Only females have eating disorders. Eating disorders 
actually hurt people of all genders, ages, races, religions, sexual 
orientations, and body shapes.
  Myth number three: You can't recover from an eating disorder. This, 
perhaps, is the most important myth to dispel. Recovery and treatment 
are possible. The National Eating Disorders Association offers free 
helplines and more information on their website, 
nationaleatingdisorders.org.
  Every 52 minutes, someone dies because of an eating disorder. It is 
time for change. Let's break the stigma. Let's invest in care. Let's 
send a message to all those struggling: You are not alone.

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