Our Response to the Oprah Special

https://www.eatingdisorderscollaborative.org/post/cedo-s-response-to-the-oprah-special-shame-blame-and-the-weight-loss-revolution

As a member of the Collaborative of Eating Disorders Organizations (CEDO), we at COPE are extremely concerned about the lack of consideration for eating disorders in

Oprah’s Special: Shame, Blame and the
Weight Loss Revolution
that aired on March 18, 2024. While Oprah’s personal journey
and body autonomy is very important, the Special unfortunately perpetuates diet culture
and anti-fat bias, which can often fuel the development of disordered eating and eating
disorders.
We are disappointed that information regarding the use of GLP-1s and eating disorders
were not present in the Special. The use of GLP-1s in pursuit of weight loss can
increase the risk for developing an eating disorder, contribute to relapse for those who
have previously struggled, and exacerbate the symptomatology in individuals who are
currently struggling. Eating disorders affect more than 29 million Americans and cost
our country more than $400B/year in combined financial costs and loss of well-being
(Harvard STRIPED, Academy for Eating Disorders, Deloitte Access Economics, 2020).
Furthermore, eating disorders are the second deadliest mental illness after opioid
abuse. With that, we strongly recommend every person considered for a GLP-1
prescription is screened for disordered eating and eating disorders.
Less than 15% of medical students receive any education on eating disorders in their
doctoral training. It is imperative that healthcare providers learn about, and screen for,
disordered eating and eating disorders, which could be a contraindication for the use of
these drugs.
Individuals, and guardians of children and teens, should be aware of the risks when
taking these drugs for weight loss. If we operate under the assumption that weight loss
leads to improved health outcomes, we must also note that studies assessing the
efficacy of diets do not show evidence of health improvements and are ineffective at
“obesity” prevention (Mann et al., 2007; Fildes et al., 2015). Furthermore, weight-based
approaches to health exacerbate weight stigma, a correlate of adverse health and
well-being (Tylka et al., 2014). As such, there are considerable ethical considerations of
promoting treatment that may be damaging. It’s important to recognize the probability of
weight cycling and the evidence of long-term harm from weight-loss interventions,
especially for those with a history of, or predisposition for, an eating disorder.
The long-term impact of GLP-1s on individuals who are taking it for off-label weight-loss
have yet to be seen. However, recent research has shown that individuals without
diabetes who take GLP-1s for weight loss have an increased risk of developing serious
medical complications, including pancreatitis, gastroparesis, bowel obstructions, and
gallbladder disease (Sodhi, et al., 2023; He, et al., 2022). Over time, many will not eat
enough to fuel their body properly because of their desire to lose weight. Extreme

restrictive eating can lead to serious complications including, but not limited to: bone
loss, low heart rate, organ damage, hormone disruption, and neurological issues.
As the popularity of GLP-1s soars, the lack of consideration for the negative impact on
disordered eating, and contribution to medical weight stigma and fatphobia will put lives
in danger. We strongly urge healthcare providers and the community at-large to include
eating disorders in this crucial conversation. We invite you to engage with CEDO
members for support and to help reduce the potential for harm. For more information,
including signs and symptoms of eating disorders, please contact one of the non-profit
organizations listed below. https://www.eatingdisorderscollaborative.org/

With regards,
Collaborative of Eating Disorders Organizations
Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance: AKEDA
Amy’s Gift
Be Real USA
Beyond Rules Recovery
Body Equity Alliance
Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders
COPE: Community Outreach to Prevent Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders Coalition of Iowa
Eating Disorder Foundation
Education and Insight on Eating Disorders: EDIN
F.E.A.S.T.
International Federation of Eating Disorder Dietitians: IFEDD
Manna Fund
Michigan Eating Disorders Alliance
Missouri Eating Disorders Association: MiEDA
Multi Service Eating Disorders Association: MEDA
National Alliance for Eating Disorders: The Alliance
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders: ANAD
One Hope Project
Project HEAL
Realize Your Beauty
Renewed
Rock Recovery
Stay Strong Virginia

About CEDO
The Collaborative of Eating Disorders Organizations (CEDO) is a partnership of
mission-aligned non-profit organizations and allies dedicated to increasing awareness
and resources at the global, national, regional and local level for people affected by
eating disorders and disordered eating. For more information, please visit
www.eatingdisorderscollaborative.org

References
● Harvard STRIPED, Academy for Eating Disorders, Deloitte Access Economics
(2020). Economic Costs of Eating Disorders. Available at:
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/striped/report-economic-costs-of-eating-disorders/
● He, Wang, Ping, et al. (2022). Association of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor
Agonist Use With Risk of Gallbladder and Biliary Diseases: A Systematic Review
and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. JAMA Intern Med, 182(5),
513-519.
● Mann, T., et al. (2007). Medicare’s search for effective obesity treatments: Diets
are not the answer. American Psychologist, 62(3), 220–233.
● Sodhi, Rezaeianzadeh, Kezouh, et al. (2023). Risk of Gastrointestinal Adverse
Events Associated With Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight
Loss. JAMA, 330(18), 1795-1797.
● Tylka et al. (2014). The Weight-Inclusive versus Weight-Normative Approach to
Health: Evaluating the Evidence for Prioritizing Well-Being over Weight Loss.
Journal of Obesity.

The Crown Jewels: Eating Disorders in Aging and Marginalized Bodies- Keynote iaedp Symposium 2024

https://iaedp.confex.com/iaedp/2024/meetingapp.cgi/Session/5938

COPE Co-Founders: Karen Samuels, Ph.D., CEDS & Kathryn Fraser, Ph.D. joined by Margo Maine, Ph.D., CEDS, FAED, will lead this opening KEYNOTE/PLENARY Session at the IAEDP Symposium 2024, March 22, 2024. https://iaedp.site-ym.com/events/register.aspx?id=1761349&itemid=77f7b750-03dc-45ff-8b01-39ef6295772c
Isabel Wilkerson reminds us:  “We are warehousing the Crown Jewels of our society.  The fear of aging is the fear of how society treats aging.”  This panel explores the marginalization and invisibilization of Eating Disorders at midlife and beyond, across gender, race, and bodies unseen and untreated.   Health disparities in BIPOC and aging populations are linked to underrepresentation of minorities in health care.  Reviewing the Nine Truths of Eating Disorders at Midlife and Beyond (Margo Maine, 2018) illuminates pathways of healing in cultural relational context. We present systemic solutions to improve and increase treatment, including effective mentorship for BIPOC providers.

EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS WEEK 2024 Healing in Community

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox/FMfcgzGxRnkRcvfJFshBCkjjbgmsvVrQ

he National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders is honored to be involved in this year’s Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Follow along as we collaborate with other organizations to feature interviews, webinars and social media posts featuring critical information on the state of eating disorders research and awareness.Visit our website at https://nceedus.org/edaw/ to explore all of the available resources. Share the materials with your community using the #EDAW2024 hashtag.We look forward to our continued partnership during this important week.
Webinars for EDA Week
Join NCEED content experts and other healthcare professionals as they discuss the latest on eating disorders research and evidence-based treatments.

Ask the Experts: Getting Eating Disorder Care as a BIPOC Individual

Ask the Experts: Getting Eating Disorder Care as a BIPOC Individual

Join Equip Health and Rock Recovery for an enlightening virtual event featuring a panel of Eating Disorder clinicians and caregivers. They will share their expertise, and engage in a meaningful discussion on accessing eating disorder care as a BIPOC individual. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from experts who understand the unique challenges faced by BIPOC individuals seeking eating disorder treatment. Come to learn, connect, and support one other as we seek to build a world where everyone has access to the mental health treatment they need and deserve.

Our panel will explore both successful and challenging aspects of the field, as well as address the specific experiences and hurdles encountered by BIPOC individuals seeking eating disorder treatment. We will also envision ways to enhance access to quality, effective care for BIPOC individuals, and provide ample opportunities for audience questions.

We want to thank our panelists for their willingness to participate and share insights on this important topic. As you consider your questions, we kindly ask for respect towards others’ individual experiences and viewpoints. We can’t wait for you to join us!

The panel will be moderated by Rock Recovery board member Nooshin Kiankhooy, and our panelists include Natasia James, Zeina Wu, Grace Kim, and Makailah Dowell.

Natasia “Tasi” James is a Resident in Counseling in the state of Virginia. She received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2021 at the University of Kentucky.

She has a wide breadth of experience in the mental health field, including experience with both adolescents and adults with eating disorders in the Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient levels of care. Expect Tasi’s energy to be upbeat, warm, compassionate, and humorous. Her approach is to create a space for clients to feel comfortable and safe, encourage self-exploration to resolve core issues regarding their disordered eating/negative body image, and help clients to evolve in their authenticity. She is passionate about creating inclusive spaces, and access to high quality of care for underserved communities.

Zeina Wu is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Eating Disorder Dietitian. She graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Biological Sciences. Prior to joining Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight, she worked in a variety of settings including: community healthcare, hospitals, and private practice. She enjoys working with individuals from all backgrounds and age groups. She has over a decade of experience in the eating disorder field. She has a deep understanding of the complexities that come with mental health disorders and is here to provide support.

She truly believes in empowering individuals through education. She is passionate about dispelling myths and misconceptions about the human body and nutrition. In her spare time she enjoys cooking and baking, enjoying the outdoors, and reading books.

With lived experience in bulimia nervosa and BED (binge eating disorder), Makailah Dowell recovered while facing many treatment accessibility barriers and, through that journey, discovered a passion for pursuing healthcare equity. She graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with an emphasis on microbiology research and continues her work with Equip as a Lead Peer Mentor. She is dedicated to highlighting the BIPOC experience in the healthcare community, disability advocacy, and providing affordable & accessible care for all.”

Grace Kim is a dedicated psychiatric nurse practitioner bringing compassionate, culturally responsive care to patients across the lifespan. An alumna of Yale School of Nursing, Grace’s journey is enriched by her dual roles as a former peer mentor and current psychiatric provider at Equip Health, drawing from lived experiences to enhance her understanding. Her passion lies in delivering specialized eating disorder care, with a focus on serving the AAPI and LGBTQIA communities. Informed by her background as a second generation Korean-American, Grace approaches her work with a commitment to transcultural care and addressing intergenerational trauma.

Nooshin Kiankhooy joined the Rock Recovery board in December of 2023 and has been a clinician in the field of eating disorders since 2010. Nooshin founded Empowering You in 2012, a therapy practice in Olney, MD which specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and trauma. In addition to being a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Supervisor, she also completed basic EMDR training and is hoping to be certified by the end of 2025. She takes passion in guiding new clinicians in the field of eating disorders and mentoring others. As a member of the board, Nooshin is excited to help support Rock Recovery in expanding their clinical programs and outreach to other areas in the DMV. Nooshin lives in Olney, MD with her husband and two daughters. In her free time she loves reading, exploring new restaurants and recording episodes for the podcast she shares with one of her associates, Real Talk Therapy.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ask-the-experts-getting-eating-disorder-care-as-a-bipoc-individual-tickets-801681329437?aff=oddtdtcreator

Eating Disorders Awareness Week: Embracing the Journey: Fostering Acceptance and Belonging in Eating Disorder Recovery



https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#search/eating+disorders+awareness+week/FMfcgzGxRncVkpPLPMVmdWVXxvnshklb
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024Time: 12:00-1:00 pm EST

Body image concerns can originate in unresolved issues—either from the past or from current life stressors. In the current iteration of our society, people living in larger bodies are stigmatized, ridiculed, and bullied. They are made to feel like they don’t belong. Add to this the perpetuation of the “big lie” that if you are thin, you will fit in, be happy, and be healthy.

In this webinar, we discuss the journey to healing from trauma and childhood adversity. This journey is not something that can be prescribed by anyone, as each individual’s path is different. Learn about guides to help an individual reintegrate the parts of themselves they have shunned, the image of their body that has been perverted by society, and the dreams and desires that may have been thrown to the wayside.

In this webinar you will learn to:

  • Identify childhood adversity and other underlying causes contributing to body image issues.
  • Discuss how the “big lie” has impacted the development of eating disorders.
  • Identify and discuss how acceptance and belonging can impact recovery and specifically body image issues.
  • Presenter:
  • Carolyn Coker Ross, MD, MPH, CEDS-S
  • African American author, speaker, and expert in using Integrative Medicine for the treatment of food and body image issues and addictions. CEO of The Anchor Program.

The White House Heralds Third Consecutive National Eating Disorders Awareness Week Presidential Proclamation

The White House Heralds Third Consecutive National Eating Disorders Awareness Week Presidential Proclamation
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 23, 2024)- For the third consecutive year, the Biden Administration has proclaimed February 26 to March 3, 2024, as National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. The Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy, & Action (EDC) is committed to advancing the recognition of eating disorders as a public health priority throughout the United States and applauds the Administration’s continued efforts to join us in these efforts. National Eating Disorders Awareness Week brings visibility, support, and hope for everyone affected by eating disorders. This year’s theme, “Let’s Talk About It: Eating Disorders, Stigma, and Empowered Recovery,” focuses on understanding the facts around eating disorders, addressing common eating disorder stigmas, raising awareness about disparities in diagnosis and treatment, highlighting best practices for improving care, and empowering people when seeking support and recovery. Eating disorders can affect anyone. People of all ages, genders, socioeconomic statuses, shapes and sizes, sexual orientations, abilities, neurodiversities, races, and ethnicities can experience an eating disorder. Eating disorders often have serious physical and emotional consequences for the affected person. With proper treatment and support, individuals can fully recover. Unfortunately, less than one-third of people who have an eating disorder receive treatment. National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is a time to raise awareness of the progress that has been made and the work that remains to increase education, training, early intervention, screening, and access to affordable and comprehensive care. The White House Presidential Proclamation serves as a recommitment from the Biden Administration to support and address eating disorders across the nation. “The EDC thanks President Biden and his administration for issuing the White House Proclamation in honor of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week,” said Laura Donahue, EDC Board Vice President. “The White House Proclamation along with the attention of federal agencies’ during Eating Disorders Awareness Week, is a testament to the work that the EDC and the entire eating disorder field have done to educate the public about the seriousness of eating disorders.” “I am deeply appreciative of President Biden for spotlighting National Eating Disorders Awareness Week,” said Jami Schadler, EDC Iowa Ambassador. “For 25 years, I suffered from an eating disorder. I wish that in the midst of my disorder there would have been more resources available. Now in recovery for 2 years, it has been my mission to advocate for those who continue to battle this all-consuming disease. I want those struggling to experience the freedom I feel and help them find resources. I will forever advocate to continue to have mine and others’ voices heard.” To highlight the week’s theme, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Women’s Health (OWH) will be hosting a webinar on Thursday, February 29th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM EST. The webinar will highlight eating disorder data, disparities for underserved and underrepresented populations, and best practices in providing quality care for diverse populations. Attendees will hear from subject matter experts in the field and individuals with lived experience as they dive into the latest eating disorder considerations for individuals, loved ones, and healthcare professionals. The EDC is honored to have three members of our Board of Directors speak at the webinar: Christine M. Peat, PhD, FAED, LP, Associate Professor and Director, National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders at UNC Chapel Hill; Johanna Kandel, Founder and CEO, National Alliance for Eating Disorders; and Schuyler Bailar, Educator, Author, and Advocate. Learn more and register here.
The Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action is a federal advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. The EDC advances the recognition of eating disorders as a public health priority throughout the United States.

Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2024: February 26 – March 3, 2024

Eating Disorder Awareness Week: HEALING IN COMMUNITY

As the Collaborative of Eating Disorders Organizations (CEDO), we are excited to unite and announce Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2024, February 26 – March 3, 2024! This year’s theme is, “Healing in Community.” Community can be such a powerful tool in healing – we are so much better together. We look forward to having you join us and stay tuned for more information. #eatingdisordersawarenessweek #edaw

Camp Realize Your Beauty

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/04/theater/body-positivity-theater-camp.html?unlocked_article_code=&smid=url-share
Summer Camp

Located in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, Camp Realize Your Beauty offers a unique summer theatre camp experience. Theatre classes & traditional camp activities- such as campfire circles, archery, and nature walks- are combined with empowerment workshops designed to build self-esteem and life skills.

Through fun and engaging activities, we help your child to build their self-confidence, while they develop new friendships! https://www.realizeyourbeauty.org/summer-camp

Medical Provider Resource – Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders

https://crcfored.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Medical-Provider-Resource-FINAL.pdf

Medical Provider Resource – Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders

Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders

Excellent Resource for Medical Providers in the Treatment of Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are complex illnesses with biological, genetic, psychological, social, and developmental roots. They come in all shapes and
sizes and they do not discriminate between age, gender, race, class, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or ethnicity. It is
impossible to know whether a person suffers from an eating disorder, or its severity, solely on the basis of appearance.

The Eating Disorder Trap Podcast

IN THIS EPISODE
Karen Samuels, PhD. is the Director and Co-Founder of COPE: Community Outreach to Prevent Eating Disorders (2001), a NEDA NETWORK partner. Dr Samuels was awarded the 2014 NEDA Westin Family Award for Activism and Advocacy.
We discuss topics including:
As we age eating disorders and body changes are different in younger years as opposed to older years
As an adult we have established a formed identity vs. when a child develops an eating disorder they have formed other areas in their life
It is never too late to get support with an eating disorder
The denial of getting help
The lack of treatment for older folx
The importance of sharing your story as an older client

Eating Disorders in Midlife and Beyond

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo2ZQxv_9_o

Karen Samuels, Ph.D., licensed psychologist in NE Florida, has practiced for over 35 years. Her career has been dedicated to empowering midlife and aging women and other forgotten populations through her community involvement, psychotherapy practice, publications, presentations and consultation. She founded COPE: Community Outreach to Prevent Eating Disorders, (501(c)(3) in 2001. Dr. Samuels received the 2014 National Eating Disorders Association Westin Family Award for Activism and Advocacy in recognition of her community and social justice work. In this video, Karen Samuels, PhD, CEDS discusses what eating disorders look like for individuals in midlife and beyond, and the prevalence of eating disorders in this period of life.

National Eating Disorders Association

National Eating Disorders Association

@NEDAonline3.56K subscribers216 videosNEDA supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care.

NCEED-National Center of Excellence in Eating Disorders

Training for Healthcare Providers
SBIRT-ED Screener Tool

Make Decisions that Make a Difference
Eating disorders often go undetected.
Understand the signs and know how to get people the help they need.
Training for Healthcare Providers
SBIRT-ED Screener Tool

NCEED is the nation’s first center of excellence dedicated to eating disorders. Founded in 2018 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, our mission is to advance education and training of healthcare providers and to promote public awareness of eating disorders and eating disorder treatment.

Based at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NCEED includes clinicians, researchers, and advocates who specialize in eating disorder care. We are committed to providing up-to-date, reliable, and evidence-based information.

Morningside Chats Hosted by Sondra Kronberg

Join us this week!
PLEASE FORWARD AND OFFER THIS RESOURCE TO PATIENTS & colleagues to add to their support – 
It is a completely collegial, non-competitive, non-promotional joint effort by experts.
Sondra Kronberg hosts:
Join COPE’s own:
Dr. Karen Samuels, Ph.D.,
Co-Founder of COPE-
MARCH 11TH, 2023

CLICK TO REGISTER and/or Visit our website!

Choose Support • Choose Connection • Choose Recovery
Wishing you and your loved ones the best of health. 

Breathe and stay in each moment with love and care for yourself. ️
In honor of all of our patients and in memory of our dear friend
Lynn Grefe, CEO of NEDA

Choose Support • Choose Connection 
• Choose Recovery
Amazing Expert Guest List:
Join COPE’s own:
Dr. Karen Samuels, Ph.D.,
Co-Founder of COPE-
MARCH 11TH, 2023


For previous chats, newsletters and takeawaysvisit our website!
CLICK TO REGISTER and/or Visit our website!

EXPERTS in the eating disorder field, iaedp, and gurze/salucore resources have come together weekly to offer free support to all clients who are struggling with this forced change in their lives and in their treatment. Morningside Chats in the Living Room is a safe space for anyone to join, listen, comment, be present and as anonymous, as you choose. Each week a different expert in the eating disorder field will engage in casual dialog and offer tips and support. Professionals are sharing their unique perspectives on life, joy, daily struggles, and the rapidly changing environment we all find ourselves in today.
Morningside Chats offers a genuine source of connection and support for both the speakers and participants during this time of isolation. It is a place to connect, share, process, and uncover the silver linings or just hang out. Amazingly, professionals as well as patients are participating as a way to stay connected.
Patients will be able to maintain their anonymity by signing on as anonymous in their profile or by changing their name on the screen when they sign on to the call. They will not be seen as all videos will be turned off except for those of the hosts. Professionals welcome as well!!
We hope you can join us!!
Best Regards, 
Morningside Chats in the Living Room
Contact: chatsinthelivingroom@gmail.com

CEDO: Collaborative Eating Disorders Organizations #eatingdisordersawarenessweek2023

In honor of #eatingdisorderawarenessweek , the Collaborative of Eating Disorders Organizations (CEDO) wanted to share information about our free and accessible services that we provide throughout the U.S.

Make sure to check out all the programming that our organizations offer.

This #EatingDisordersAwarenessWeek , with the theme IT’S TIME for CHANGE, it is imperative that we come together and unite with the common goal to provide more for the community.. More equity, access, Outreach, early-intervention, education, advocacy, and awareness. We are so much stronger together! #EDAW#ItsTimeForAChange

#CEDO

A Proclamation for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2023

FEBRUARY 24, 2023

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, 2023

  1. PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS
  2. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/02/24/a-proclamation-on-national-eating-disorders-awareness-week-2023/

     Nearly 1 in 10 Americans are expected to develop an eating disorder in their lifetime.  When left untreated, eating disorders can have devastating effects on a person’s health.  Each of us has the power to help people who are struggling to receive the support and treatment they need and to promote a culture that treats everyone with dignity and respect.  During National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, we call attention to this serious health condition and reaffirm that, with early access to treatment and support, a full recovery is possible.

     My Administration is taking action to address eating disorders.  Through the National Institute of Mental Health, we are working to develop better therapies and interventions.  Through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and funding for the National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders, we are also helping health care providers, families, caregivers, and community members access new tools and trainings to help detect and treat eating disorders.

     I made tackling the mental health crisis a key pillar of my Administration’s Unity Agenda, and since coming into office, I have invested billions of dollars to improve access to mental health services.  For example, we are expanding Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, which deliver 24/7 mental health care to millions of Americans, regardless of their ability to pay.  We are also shaping brighter futures for the next generation by helping schools hire more counselors, social workers, and nurses; expanding training for health care professionals; integrating mental health into primary care; strengthening enforcement of mental health parity laws; and addressing the harms of bullying and social media platforms that fuel eating disorders, depression, and self-harm.

     This week, let us acknowledge the families of those struggling with eating disorders as they care for their loved ones.  Let us recommit to celebrating and supporting our fellow Americans who are on their road to recovery.  And let us spread the word that help is just a phone call away:  The SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 is a confidential, free, 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year information and referral service.  For anyone experiencing a crisis, immediate and confidential help is also available by calling or texting 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 26 through March 4, 2023, as National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.  I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other interested groups to join in activities that will increase awareness of what Americans can do to prevent eating disorders and that will improve access to care and other support services for those currently living with an eating disorder.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

NOT ONE MORE Weekend

FEBRUARY 24, 2023
– FEBRUARY 26, 2023

NOT ONE MORE Weekend

We are thrilled to announce NOT ONE MORE Weekend, Friday, February 24 to Sunday, February 26, 2023, a weekend built on the pillars of what The Alliance does: Help. Support. Recovery. Join this national movement, as we ensure that NOT ONE MORE life is lost, NOT ONE MORE child is taken, and NOT ONE MORE precious moment is destroyed by this insidious disease. Over this three-day weekend, help us continue to raise awareness and offer direct support to individuals and families across the country. Proceeds from the NOT ONE MORE Weekend will directly fund our free, weekly, virtual eating disorders support groups!

MORE INFORMATION

JOIN THE EDGI STUDY TODAY

The Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative (EDGI) is the largest-ever genome-wide association study for eating disorders. EDGI will create the blueprint to identify the causes of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. The Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative (EDGI) is an international research study designed to understand how your genes can influence your risk for developing an eating disorder.

You can help by introducing the study to your patients. The goal is 6000 participants. See the 5 simple steps (below) for participation. There is also a link below to download a flyer for your waiting room, post on your website or blog, or send to clients electronically,

We know that one treatment doesn’t fit all eating disorders. EDGI will guide us toward a personalized medicine approach including tailored treatment and recovery plans. EDGI will allow us to understand how both genes and environment influence risk for these disorders. The purpose of EDGI is to learn more about how genes influence risk for bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and anorexia nervosa. By introducing this important study to your patients, you can help advance understanding of the genetics of eating disorders and contribute to a future with better treatments!

You can download the flyer (above) to share here.

ONLINE DONATIONS NOW ACCEPTED TO COPE

 bfly-insignia

Dear COPE FRIENDS,

Great news!     Our Donation icon  now allows you to use PayPal to charge your contribution to the credit card of your choice.   It is safe, secure and you can rest assured your donation will be supporting the community outreach, education, and scholarship funds that help us help our community.  

Everyone knows someone who is struggling with an eating disorder, body image distress or other disordered eating challenges.   COPE has been active in Volusia and Flagler counties since 2001, dedicated to make a difference.  We are involved in the local schools, colleges, community health forums, lobbying in Washington, D.C. for legislative change, speaking across the area and now proud to offer scholarship funds for those who would not be able to receive essential health care. 

All of us involved in COPECommunity Outreach for the Prevention of Eating Disorders, are dedicated volunteers, working to eliminate eating disorders, improve body image and restore peace and balance to those affected by these life threatening challenges.   We have been a community resource, and 501©(3), Jan. 2001.

COPE provided many resources that are a beacon of hope for those who suffer or have loved ones affected by eating disorders and body image issues.