On the recordApril 26, 2010
today I am joining with Senator Klobuchar and Senator Franken to introduce the Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders, FREED, Act. This important bill is the first comprehensive legislative effort to confront eating disorders in the U.S. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are widespread, insidious, and too often fatal diseases. Today, at least 5 million Americans suffer from eating disorders. Because these diseases often go undiagnosed and uncounted, the actual number is closer to 11 million Americans. Adolescent women are by no means the only people suffering from eating disorders; these diseases don't discriminate by gender, race, income, or age. Eating disorders are dangerous conditions, but their consequences are often underestimated. These diseases can lead to serious heart conditions, kidney failure, osteoporosis, infertility, gastrointestinal disorders, and even death. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that one in 10 people with anorexia nervosa will die of starvation, cardiac arrest, or some other medical complication. One in 10! That is deeply disturbing, and cries out for a much more aggressive Federal response.
