Eating Disorders Advocacy
Despite the prevalence of eating disorders they continue to receive inadequate research funding.
In 2005, the National Institutes of Health estimates funding the following disorders accordingly:
- Eating disorders: 10 million affected ($7,000,000* spent on research by NIMH)
- Alzheimer’s disease: 4.5 million affected ($412,000,000 spent on research by NIMH)
- Schizophrenia: 2 million affected ($249,000,000 spent on research by NIMH)
* The reported research funds are for anorexia nervosa only. No estimated funding is reported for bulimia nervosa or eating disorders not otherwise specified.
NIMH Research dollars spent on anorexia averaged $.70 per affected individual, compared to over $159.00 per affected individual for schizophrenia.
American Public Opinion on Eating Disorders
In March 2005, NEDA contracted with Global Market Insite, Inc. (GMI), a leader in global market research, to conduct a 1,500 nationwide sample of adults in the U.S. Their findings concluded from those surveyed that:
- Three out of four Americans believe eating disorders should be covered by insurance companies just like any other illness.
- Americans believe that government should require insurance companies to cover the treatment of eating disorders.
- Four out of ten Americans either suffered or have known someone who has suffered from an eating disorder.
Treatment is important because:
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Early intervention can help minimize the potentially life long complications of this disorder, and can reduce the severity of this life long battle
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Without treatment—and most patients are not being treated– one-fifth of patients will die prematurely.
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Even with treatment, after 8 to 25 years, the premature mortality rates are 4% for AN patients, 3.9% for bulimia nervosa (BN) patients and 5.2% for those with eating disorders not otherwise specified, or EDNOS.
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Anorexia nervosa has the highest premature fatality rate of any mental illness (Sullivan, 1995).
Information, Courtesy of National Eating Disorders Association
Early intervention can help minimize the potentially life long complications of this disorder, and can reduce the severity of this life long battle
Without treatment—and most patients are not being treated– one-fifth of patients will die prematurely.
Even with treatment, after 8 to 25 years, the premature mortality rates are 4% for AN patients, 3.9% for bulimia nervosa (BN) patients and 5.2% for those with eating disorders not otherwise specified, or EDNOS.
Anorexia nervosa has the highest premature fatality rate of any mental illness (Sullivan, 1995).
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org