Columbus—Today, Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights) testified on Senate Concurrent Resolution 19 and Senate Bill 245, which would designate Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

SCR 19 would designate February 26 through March 4, 2018 as Eating Disorder Awareness Week, while SB 245 would designate the week commencing on the last Monday of February as Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Sixteen other states have introduced similar resolutions.

“Many Ohioans are affected by eating disorders and we want to encourage them to seek help,” said Senator Yuko. “It is important that we understand the struggles that many of our friends and family members face when suffering from an eating disorder. Raising awareness is a step to educate the public and to fight the stigma that is associated with these life-threatening illnesses.”

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), 20 million women and 10 million men in America suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives. Eating disorders often affect teenagers, but psychologists and doctors have diagnosed an increasing number of children and adults with these illnesses. The most common forms of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating.

NEDA has a ‘Help and Support’ section on their website that helps people locate treatment and support in their area.