NEDA is excited to announce that the Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing yesterday on H.R. 4153, the Educating to Prevent Eating Disorders Act of 2015, following the bill’s introduction in the House last week by Representative Renee Ellmers. NEDA Senior Board Advisor Ovidio Bermudez, MD served as a witness at the hearing, during which he educated committee members about the importance of screenings for the early intervention and prevention of eating disorders. NEDA is grateful to Representative Ellmers for her leadership on this important issue, and we are hopeful that support will continue to grow for this legislation in the coming weeks and months!
H.R. 4153 aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a pilot program to test the impact of early intervention through screenings on the prevention, management and course of eating disorders.
The bill would establish a three-year pilot program to provide grants to eligible schools for eating disorders screenings, which would be implemented based on best practices from recommendations from experts in the field of eating disorders.
The pilot program would also include funding to provide educational information and seminars on eating disorders developed by experts in the field for teachers and parents in eligible schools. The intent of H.R. 4153 is to detect risk factors and symptoms so that young people can be directed to help when it is most effective. H.R. 4153 could be the most important proactive piece of legislation for the early intervention and the prevention of deadly eating disorders. The program’s outcome would provide valuable insight into the impact of screening for eating disorders.
Representative Ellmers commented, “Through my experience as a nurse, I recognize—and have witnessed—the serious implications that stem from eating disorders. These disorders impact a person’s emotional and physical health, so it is all the more important that we put an evidence-based program in place to better understand the early warning signs of this disease.”
During his testimony, Dr. Bermudez explained that early intervention can make all the difference in a person’s recovery. He told the committee that early recognition may prevent the development of eating disorders and subsequent chronic health conditions, and that studies have demonstrated a link between early intervention and better treatment outcomes. “We’re talking about not just saving lives and saving people from suffering, but this is an area in which an ounce of prevention is worth many pounds of cures,” said Dr. Bermudez.
The hearing provided a wonderful opportunity for the field of eating disorders, as it was a rare occasion for these issues to get the attention and support from Congress they deserve! We are confident that the testimony of Dr. Bermudez will help to move this important issue forward.
In addition to Representative Ellmers, NEDA thanks original co-sponsors on the legislation, Representative Nita Lowey, Representative Yvette Clarke, Representative Kathy Castor and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
To view the entire committee hearing, click here.
To view a short clip of the hearing featuring Representative Ellmers and Dr. Bermudez discussing the legislation, click here.
Don’t forget to take action by asking YOUR representative to support H.R. 4153!
