SPRINGFIELD, IL, March 2 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Last Wednesday, in an effort to bring more attention for the need of increased awareness, education and accessibility to treatment of eating disorders, the Illinois Legislature declared February 25, 2009 the inaugural Eating Disorders Awareness Day in the state.
Advocates, family members and individuals living with eating disorders joined Illinois Representatives Dan Burke and Fred Crespo in providing emotional and moving testimony to the Illinois House of Representatives Executive Committee on the need for increased state-sponsored education and awareness programs to support action that lowers the incidence of these often fatal diseases.
Those who provided testimony included a 17 year-old resident of Timberline Knolls, a residential treatment center for women and adolescent girls dealing with eating disorders, substance abuse and other emotional disorders. Kimberly Dennis, M.D., Medical Director at Timberline Knolls, who provided testimony on her own recovery from an eating disorder, said it was critical for the legislature to hear their personal accounts of this disease.
"Eating disorders are real diseases, just like heart disease or diabetes - and like those diseases, they require appropriate long-term clinical treatment," said Dr. Dennis. "Yesterday, our elected officials heard stories of suffering, hope and recovery that emphasize the need for further state-sponsored awareness and treatment programs."
According to Representative Burke, eating disorders are increasing at an alarming rate in the state. "Nationally, the incidence of bulimia in women ages 10 to 39 has tripled over the last twenty years, and continues to grow," said Representative Burke. "For young women with anorexia, the mortality rate is 12 times higher than the death rate for all other diseases, including cancer."
"We appreciate the opportunity to voice our concerns to the Illinois Legislature and will continue to do so until all eating disorders are covered under the state's mental health parity law and all individuals in need of treatment have access to the long-term care required to recover from this deadly disease," said Dr. Dennis.
In the United States, as many as 10 million females and one million males are fighting a life-and-death battle with anorexia or bulimia, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Based on these national statistics, Illinois is home to 400,000 females and 40,000 males who suffer from a variety of eating disorders.
About Timberline Knolls
Located just outside of Chicago on 43 beautiful acres, Timberline Knolls offers a spiritually nurturing environment of recovery for women ages 12 and older who are struggling to overcome eating disorders, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. For more information on Timberline Knolls and the services offered, visit www.timberlineknolls.com.
