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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION 42

 
2     WHEREAS, Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa,
3 bulimia, eating disorders not otherwise specified, and binge
4 eating disorders are serious emotional disorders that can lead
5 to advanced physical illness and death if left untreated; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Anorexia nervosa is a particularly deadly
7 disease, and has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric
8 disorder; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Clinical studies have revealed that eating
10 disorders among Illinois youth are increasing at an alarming
11 rate, with more than ten percent of adolescent girls and three
12 percent of boys binge eating or purging at least once a week;
13 and
 
14     WHEREAS, In the absence of treatment, twenty percent of all
15 those afflicted with advanced eating disorders will die as a
16 direct result; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Early detection, diagnosis, and comprehensive
18 treatment greatly increases the likelihood of a successful
19 recovery; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Eating disorders are multifaceted and complex

 

 

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1 conditions, typically requiring a comprehensive balance of
2 medical and mental health treatment; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Substance abuse often accompanies eating
4 disorders, with alcoholism a contributing factor in more than
5 half of the cases involving female patients under age 30; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The chronic and repetitive pattern that
7 characterizes eating disorders necessitates more than one
8 course of treatment; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Comprehensive treatment by professionals in a
10 clinical setting is proven to save lives and assist patients in
11 returning to emotional and physical health; and
 
12     WHEREAS, The nature of this complex disease is such that
13 persistent treatment after physical symptoms subside is often
14 indicated, and patients remain susceptible to relapse if
15 treatment is terminated prematurely; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Greater availability of treatment programs and
17 comprehensive coverage of complete treatment protocols are
18 needed today to save the lives of a growing number of
19 adolescents and adults who are silently struggling with this
20 potentially fatal disease; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, The Illinois Eating Disorders Coalition, the
2 Illinois Psychiatric Society, the Illinois Psychological
3 Association, the Mental Health Summit, the National
4 Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, and
5 the National Eating Disorder Association joined together to
6 support the inclusion of anorexia nervosa and bulimia on the
7 list of serious mental illnesses that qualify for coverage
8 under applicable health insurance plans, as enacted by the
9 Ninety-Fifth General Assembly in Public Act 95-973; therefore,
10 be it
 
11     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
12 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
13 hereby recognize February 25, 2009 as the inaugural Eating
14 Disorders Awareness Day in the State of Illinois, and we invite
15 all Illinoisans to join in observance of this day through
16 appropriate programs and activities directed toward the
17 prevention and recovery of eating disorders; and be it further
 
18     RESOLVED, That we support the National Eating Disorder
19 Association's "States for Treatment Access and Research"
20 Program in its goal of advancing public support for programs to
21 increase the availability of care for individuals with eating
22 disorders; and be it further
 
23     RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be

 

 

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1 presented to The Illinois Eating Disorders Coalition, the
2 Illinois Psychiatric Society, the Illinois Psychological
3 Association, the Mental Health Summit, the National
4 Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, and
5 the National Eating Disorder Association in recognition of
6 their outstanding and cooperative work on this important public
7 health issue.