Eating Disorders Coalition

The Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action (EDC)'s mission is to advance the recognition of eating disorders as a public health priority throughout the United States.

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that affect an estimated 30 million people in the U.S. in their lifetime. In order to prevent, identify and effectively treat eating disorders, the EDC recognizes the need for increased awareness, well-trained health professionals, and greater access to treatment services nationwide.

Since its founding in 2000, the EDC has worked tirelessly to begin to address these needs for the millions of Americans affected by eating disorders. 

The EDC has introduced, led, and passed the following eating disorder public policy items:
Passed the Anna Westin Act into Law through 21st Century Cures – We introduced the bipartisan Anna Westin Act of 2014 in both the House and Senate, key provisions of which were passed by Congress in the 21st Century Cures Act in December 2016. This was the first time in history that Congress passed legislation specifically written to help people affected by eating disorders including (1) increasing access to treatment by clarifying mental health parity for eating disorders, (2) training health professionals to early identify, screen, and intervene with people affected by eating disorders, and (3) updating public resources under the Office of Women’s Health for eating disorders.

Implemented & Secured Funding for the Anna Westin Act with Federal Agencies:
$49M Primary Care Training & Enhancement Grant Integration:   In March 2018, we secured committee report language to include eating disorders early identification trainings within the federal fiscal year (FY) 2018 and FY 2019 $49M Congressional Funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Primary Care Training & Enhancement Grant.

$3.75M Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders:  We lobbied and secured the first Federally funded Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders through the Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as an outgrowth of implementing the Anna Westin Act.
Passed Mental Health Parity in 2008 - We lobbied for and helped pass The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA), also known as the mental health parity act.

Fought Against Obamacare/ACA Repeal in 2017 - We are currently fighting against efforts to roll back the expansion in coverage and consumer protections under the Affordable Care Act in Congress.
Secured $5.4M in New Research Funding - The EDC secured the first federal funding of $5.4M for military eating disorders research under the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program in FY 2017.

Urged Re-Inclusion of Eating Disorders in Youth National Surveillance - The EDC worked with the Harvard University STRIPED and Academy for Eating Disorders to secure bipartisan Congressional letters urging the re-inclusion of eating disorders within the Youth Risk Behavioral Health Surveillance System (YRBSS), and secured committee report language urging the re-inclusion within FY 2019 Congressional funding for the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Secured Accounting Study on Military Eating Disorders - The EDC led a bipartisan Congressional letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study military members and families eating disorders identification and treatment, which is currently in process of being studied by GAO- expected completion by Spring 2019.

Authored the first Eating Disorders election scorecard in 2018 - The EDC compiled the first  Congressional scorecard to inform Americans about Members of Congress' record of support for eating disorders policy. The scorecard reflects how each Member of Congress has supported eating disorders policy during the 114th and 115th Congresses. *This scorecard is not an endorsement of any candidate by the Eating Disorders Coalition or its members.

By donating to the EDC, you can help us continue our work to keep eating disorders on the agenda in Congress and in federal offices. 

Learn more at www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org 



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