National Eating Disorders Association
NEDA is a wonderful thing, filled with wonderful people. NEDA is dedicated to help all people with eating disorders. Speaking as a person who is recovering from an eating disorder, recovery is a very hard thing. If you would like to look into recovery, their website offers many great things!
Visit the website at: www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
The following is a NEDA press release that has been copied from the site:
National Eating Disorders Association Urges Parents and Teens to 'Get Real'
-- Provocative Awareness Campaign Shows the Reality of Eating Disorders --
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Los Angeles - March 30, 2004 - For anyone suffering from an eating disorder, their self-perception differs dramatically from reality. Recognizing the very real, life-threatening consequences of eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is launching a dramatic and provocative "Get Real" awareness campaign portraying how distorted the self-image of someone suffering from an eating disorder can be. With this campaign, NEDA is encouraging everyone to "Get Real" expectations, "Get Real" information and "Get Real" help.
The print campaign will run throughout 2004 with pro-bono advertising placements in major national magazines including People, InStyle, Good Housekeeping and others. The television campaign includes :30 and :60 public service announcements that will run on top ten market stations carrying the same "Get Real" theme and including interviews with real sufferers. In addition, grass roots exposure will be gained via thousands of posters which have been distributed to more than 250 NEDA coordinators nationwide. The print ad was created for NEDA by Porter Novelli, a global public relations firm well-known for its successful health promotion campaigns. The PSA was produced by On Point Productions.
Anorexia and bulimia affect nearly 10 million women and 1 million men (primarily teens and young adults) in reported cases in the U.S. and can be fatal. In fact, anorexia nervosa has the highest premature fatality rate of any mental illness. The average age of sufferers is dropping rapidly (as young as elementary school), with peak onset among girls ages 11-13. It's estimated that another 25 million people suffer from binge eating disorder.
Comments Dr. Doug Bunnell, NEDA Board President, "Eating disorders are a silent killer and we have a responsibility to educate the public and save some lives. We want families, sufferers and the community at large to recognize the urgency and prevalence of eating disorders and take action."
Regarding the campaign, Lynn Grefe, CEO of NEDA notes, "This ad campaign is NEDA's red alert to the public because eating disorders have been our country's hidden epidemic, affecting millions of people. We can't afford to be shy anymore in our messaging because eating disorders are lethal -- but also treatable -- and we need to steer people toward getting real help. Sometimes it just takes a jolt of reality to help people 'Get Real' in their own lives or to 'Get Real' about helping family or friends."
Rob Gould, NEDA Board of Directors member and Senior Partner for Porter Novelli noted "experience has proven that advertising really can change people's health behavior. It starts with a message that grabs your attention, speaks to your experience and gives you a new perspective. That was our creative direction for "Get Real.""
The National Eating Disorders Association was formed in 2001 when Eating Disorders Awareness & Prevention (EDAP) joined with the American Anorexia Bulimia Association (AABA) to create the largest eating disorders prevention and advocacy organization in the world. Headquartered in Seattle, Wash., NEDA is dedicated to expanding public understanding of eating disorders and promoting access to quality treatment through a variety of programs and services, including a toll-free information and referral line (800-931-2237), distribution of educational brochures and information packets, school programs designed to teach children and teenage girls about positive body image and a Media Watchdog Program.
# # #
CONTACTS::
cho HIGHWATER GROUP
(818) 753-2316
Dorrit Ragosine - [email protected]
Traci Anderson - [email protected]