Establishes the eating disorders awareness and prevention program in the the department of health

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill creates a new Article 27-FF of the public health law establishing the Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention Program within the Department of Health and directs that the program shall, in consultation and cooperation with the Department of Education, the New York State Comprehensive Care Centers for Eating Disorders and the National Eating Disorders Association, develop a media campaign, establish school-based eating disorders awareness and prevention programs with linkages to health education courses, sponsor periodic conference or meetings of stakeholders and develop, promote and make available training programs for health professionals. It also directs the department to periodically collect and analyze information to determine the prevalence of eating disorders in the state and to evaluate the program and other state programs designed to address eating disorders.

Section 2 of the bill amends section 903 of the education law to require that health certificates required by public school districts include among the various required health screenings an assessment of the student for eating disorders.

Section 3 of the bill amends section 904 of the education law to include eating disorders to the list of things a school health services shall ensure that a student is examined for a student fail to provide the health certificate as required by section 903 of the education law and to notify the parent or guardian if the existence of an eating disorder is ascertained.

Section 4 of the bill provides for an effective date.

Justification

Alarmingly, in American high schools 30% of girls and 16% of boys suffer from disordered eating, and Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents. In fact it has the highest death rate of any mental illness with females between the ages of 15 and 24 dying 12 times more from their eating disorder than all other causes of death in that age-group.

A recent study found that between 1999 and 2006, hospitalizations for eating disorders increased most sharply (119%) for children younger than 12 years old. Clearly eating disorder awareness, detection and prevention must start at early ages and be addressed in a comprehensive manner. Early recognition and intervention of eating disorders has been linked to better treatment outcomes, however it requires enhance screening, awareness and intervention.

This bill provides a comprehensive approach by requiring screenings for eating disorders along with the other health screenings conducted for public school attendance and by creating an awareness and prevention program to develop a media campaign, establish school-based eating disorders awareness and prevention programs with linkages to health education courses, sponsor periodic conference or meetings of stakeholders and develop, promote and make available training programs for health professionals.

New York State has already taken a leading role in recognizing the importance of addressing eating disorders. In 2004 a network of Comprehensive Care Centers for Eating Disorders were established and in 2007 the Child Performer Advisory Board to Prevent Eating Disorders was enacted. This bill represents the next steps for New York State to ensure we do everything we can to be proactive and save lives,

Prior legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

To be determined, however with the cost of treating full symptom eating disorders costing upwards of $30,000 per month, this bill can, a minimal cost, result in significant savings to the state health care system while saving lives.

Effective date

This act shall take effect 90 days after enactment provided that sections 2 and 3 of the act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding enactment.