1. Eating disorders affect millions of women. 10 million women in the
United States struggle with an eating disorder. 80 percent of
American women are dissatisfied with their appearance. Four out of
10 Americans have either suffered or have known someone who has
suffered from an eating disorder.
2. Eating disorders are the deadliest mental illness with mortality
rates of up to 20 percent. The mortality rate of eating disorders
is 12 times higher than the annual death rate due to all causes of
death among females ages 15-24 in the general population. Death is
most commonly due to suicide, heart failure, or other medical
complications associated with the eating disorder.
3. Eating disorders can lead to significant health issues. When left
unchecked, anorexia nervosa will starve the body of essential
nutrients and can cause liver or kidney failure, heart problems and
osteoporosis. Bulimia nervosa can do significant damage to the
mouth, stomach and esophagus and can lead to serious dental
problems, peptic ulcers or gastric and esophageal ruptures.
4. Anorexia and bulimia have a high rate of relapse, as much as 30 to
50 percent. Because anorexia and bulimia are complicated,
multi-faceted diseases, individuals with eating disorders may
require ongoing treatment to achieve a lasting recovery.
5. Eating disorders don't discriminate. 27 percent of girls ages 12
to 18 have significant eating disorder symptoms. 31 percent of
female college students have an eating disorder.
"Eating disorders are complex conditions that can arise from a variety of
potential causes and affect a wide demographic of American women --
including children and teens," explains Dr. Ken Weiner, medical director of
the Eating Recovery Center and national expert in the treatment of eating
disorders. "It's vital that anyone dealing with these terrible diseases
seek the appropriate treatment for their condition as soon as they can."
Early detection and intervention has been proven to increase the chance of
full recovery. It is essential for the person with the illness to get a
professional assessment from a practitioner trained in eating recovery.
For more information, please call 877.825.8584 or visit
http://www.eatingrecoveryinfo.com.
Editor: Renowned eating disorders experts and founding partners of the
Eating Recovery Center Drs. Ken Weiner and Emmett Bishop, along with
current and former patients, are available for interviews to supplement
your National Women's Health Week stories. Contact Shannon Fern at
303.433.7020 or sfern@csg-pr.com to arrange an interview.
About the Eating Recovery Center
Located in the heart of Denver's medical district, the Eating Recovery
Center is the only facility in the Rocky Mountain region that offers adults
a full spectrum of eating recovery treatment options. Services offered
include inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization and outpatient
programs to meet each patient's unique needs. The Eating Recovery Center
combines highly-trained medical staff with a unique integrated treatment
philosophy to make each patient's successful recovery a life-restoring
event. For more information, visit http://www.eatingrecoveryinfo.com/.
Contact Information: Contact: Shannon Fern Office: 303-433-7020 Cell: 303-667-3553