GREAT NEWS: THE FREED ACT WAS INTRODUCED

forwarded and posted to assist in publicizing the work of the Eating Disorders Coalition

After a number of years of bringing together key stakeholders in the eating
disorders field, discussing what is needed to improve the lives of people
with eating disorders, writing recommendations for federal policy makers,
drafting these recommendations into legislative language with Congress, and
reworking those - we can now celebrate the fruits of our labor.

On Tuesday, February 25th, 2009 the EDC held a press conference with
Congressman Kennedy in the Capitol Building announcing the introduction of
the first ever comprehensive eating disorders bill in the history of
Congress. The Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders Act otherwise
called the FREED Act, (H.R. 1193) is now in the House and we need you to
contact your Representative and urge them to show their support for this
bill.

WRITE A LETTER:

Rework the sample letter below and make it your own and send it to your
Representative in the House. To find out who your Representative is go to
www.house.gov and put in your zip code. Then look up your Representative in
that directory and go to their website. Here you can contact them through
email. Cut and paste the letter below into the email. I encourage you to
put a sentence or two (not more since short and concise is always better
when communicating with Members of Congress) about your own personal
experience with an eating disorder if you have one. This makes the
communication much more personal and real for them.

THE SAMPLE LETTER

Your Name
Street Address
City

March 3, 2009

The Honorable First Name Last Name
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman(woman) XX,

As a member of the Eating Disorders Coalition and someone who has personally
suffered the impact of living with an eating disorder, I am writing you
today to ask your support for the Federal Response to Eliminate Eating
Disorders Act (H.R. 1193). This is the first comprehensive eating
disorders bill in the history of Congress. By focusing on research,
education, prevention and treatment this bill is a beacon of hope for the
millions of people currently suffering from an eating disorder.

It is estimated that 9 million Americans suffer from anorexia, bulimia,
binge eating and other eating disorders. Eating disorders are associated
with a host of medical complications including cardiac arrhythmia, cognitive
impairment, osteoporosis, infertility, heart failure and most seriously
death. In fact, anorexia nervosa has the highest death rate of all mental
disorders, upwards of 20%.

Research shows that eating disorders can be successfully overcome with early
detection and adequate and appropriate treatment. Unfortunately eating
disorders are often undiagnosed by health professionals and/or access to
treatment is limited. Less than half of all people with eating disorders
receive the treatment needed.

The Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders (the FREED Act) can
change these state of affairs. H.R. 1193 will save lives by providing more
funds for research so that we can better understand, prevent and treat
eating disorders, grant programs that provide training for health
professionals, and steps toward better access to treatment coverage.

We urge you to sign on as a cosponsor of the FREED Act. I look forward to
hearing from you. Thank you again for your consideration.

Warm regards,

First and Last Name


YOUR EFFORTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

These advocacy efforts can help us pass the FREED Act!

Thank you so much for all your actions - every one of you writing a letter
makes a difference. With enough people taking this step we will make
ourselves heard and will eventually pass this bill!

Jeanine Cogan, Ph.D., Policy Director
Eating Disorders Coalition
202-543-9570
www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org