Eating disorders now account for the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
Sharon R. Peterson, founding director of the EDN (Eating Disorder Network of Maryland), said that while anorexia and bulimia are the best known of a spectrum of eating disorders, binge eating disorder is the most commonly diagnosed. Most often, deaths related to anorexia are a result of suicide and complications of malnutrition associated with the disorder.
Those facts and more will be the focus of the 4th Annual Eating Disorder Awareness Event: From Shame to Recovery: Personal and Clinical Perspectives on Eating Disorders Across the Weight Continuum to be held 1:30 to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 7, in room 208 on the second floor of the University Union-Potomac Lounge, at Towson University. The event if free and open to the public.
Chevese Turner, CEO of BEDA, (Binge Eating Disorder Association Inc.), and Amy Pershing, clinical director of Bodywise, will join Peterson, along with 18 exhibitors representing local and national eating disorder and general health organizations at the event. Peterson said that Turner and Pershing are featured speakers of the 2010 BEDA National Conference, being held March 4-6 at the Renaissance Harborplace, in Baltimore.
In 2008, Turner, who is recovering from a binge eating disorder, recognized the need for an organization dedicated to educating professionals and the public about the disorder, founded BEDA. Turner has also served in leadership roles in the health care, pharmaceutical, political and non-profit arenas.
Pershing is the Clinical Director of the Bodywise Binge Eating Recovery Program, a comprehensive outpatient binge eating disorder treatment program developed in 1993. Featured as a guest on both radio and television on BED recovery, Pershing is an advocate for eating disorder treatment accessibility. She is a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), and of the AED Health at Every Size (HAES) Special Interest Group.
“We started EDN, June of 2007,” Peterson said. “We noticed that there was not a non-profit program in Maryland which pulled professional and organizational resources together under one network.”
Peterson, who was affected by bulimia, helped found the Baltimore chapter of ANAD, the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders. EDN, she said, has evolved as a first point-of-contact resource for information about eating disorders in the state of Maryland. EDN provides access to both private and public educational information, treatment providers and eating disorders resources throughout the state.
“We are dedicated to helping men, women, and their families affected by anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and other types of disordered eating behaviors,” Peterson said. “ By working together with all types of eating disorder professionals, we provide information on a wide range of topics and services.”
EDN provides:
A “Resource Room” at EDN headquarters with information on local, state and national eating disorder resources;
An online directory of local health professionals and nationwide residential programs specializing in the treatment of eating disorders;
Support groups for individuals, families and friends affected by eating disorders;
A monthly “brown bag” training for eating disorder professionals;
A free NED Awareness Week event every year in the spring;
A resource list of speakers for schools, colleges, community and service groups about the dangers associated with eating disorders.
10 facts about eating disorders:
1.Eating Disorder not otherwise specified, (NOS), (includes Binge Eating Disorders) has #1 mortality rate among all eds & all mental illnesses
2.The majority of eating disorders start: “tweens to college age individuals.”
3.Not all overweight or obese people have an eating disorder.
4.You can fully recover from an eating disorder.
5.Including the family in treatment increases the rate of recovery
6.Parents are not to blame for the development of an eating disorders.
7.Distinct personality traits can be found in most with eating disorders.
8.Males can and do get eating disorders.
9.Early treatment/intervention is key to recovery
10. Eating disorders can be the cause of numerous physical problems
For more information on the 4th Annual EDN Event, visit www.ednmaryland.org or call Peterson at (410) 339-3474.
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