SENATE MEMORIAL 90

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Lopez and Bill Tallman

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING FEBRUARY 25 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2019 "EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS WEEK" IN NEW MEXICO IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OBSERVANCE OF NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS WEEK.

     WHEREAS, eating disorders are shrouded in stigma, secrecy and stereotypes, and the goal of this year's awareness campaign is to shine a light on these deadly illnesses, dispel misinformation and connect people with the support they need to recover; and

     WHEREAS, eating disorders are serious conditions that are potentially life-threatening and have a great impact on both the physical and emotional health of a person; and

     WHEREAS, too often, signs and symptoms are overlooked, and many individuals, families and communities are unaware of the devastating mental and physical consequences of eating disorders, as well as the pressures, attitudes and behaviors that shape them; and

     WHEREAS, in the United States, twenty million women and ten million men suffer from clinically significant eating disorders at some time in their lives; and

     WHEREAS, these disorders affect people from all backgrounds and include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorders; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico youth risk and resiliency survey statistics show that, in 2009, four percent of United States and seven and seven-tenths percent of New Mexico high school youth had vomited or taken laxatives in the past thirty days to lose weight or to keep from gaining weight, and among middle school students, five and four-tenths percent had at one time vomited or taken laxatives to lose weight or to keep from gaining weight; and

     WHEREAS, from 2014 to 2016, twenty-two New Mexicans were hospitalized with a first-listed discharge diagnosis of anorexia, of which fifteen of the twenty-two were female and were fifteen to forty-four years old; and

     WHEREAS, those in the fifteen to forty-four age group consistently had the greatest numbers in each of the three eating disorder categories of anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder; and 

     WHEREAS, from 2014 to 2016, three hundred eighty-one New Mexicans were hospitalized with a discharge diagnosis that included anorexia, bulimia or binge-eating disorder, and eighty-five percent of those patients were female; and

     WHEREAS, over the past decade, the deaths of fourteen New Mexicans were directly attributed to the eating disorder of anorexia or bulimia; and

     WHEREAS, the national eating disorders association strives to address the many misconceptions regarding eating disorders and to highlight the availability of resources for treatment and support; and

     WHEREAS, national eating disorders awareness week is a collaborative effort consisting primarily of volunteers, including eating disorder professionals, health care providers, students, educators, social workers and individuals committed to raising awareness of the dangers surrounding eating disorders and the need for early intervention and access to treatment; and

     WHEREAS, eating disorders usually appear in adolescence and are associated with substantial psychological problems, including depression, substance abuse and suicide; and

     WHEREAS, these disorders are serious illnesses, not lifestyle choices, and, in fact, anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness; and

     WHEREAS, many cases of eating disorders go undetected and less than one-third of young people with eating disorders will receive treatment; and

     WHEREAS, eating disorders experts have found that prompt, intensive treatment significantly improves the chances of recovery; therefore, it is important for educators, medical providers, parents and community members to be aware of the warning signs and symptoms of eating disorders; and

     WHEREAS, national eating disorders awareness week will encourage people to share their stories and experiences with disordered eating and body image struggles, highlight the importance of screenings for the early detection and intervention of eating disorders, dispel myths and present eating disorders as a public health issue that affects all kinds of people, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, size or background; and

     WHEREAS, the vital work of national eating disorders awareness week is recognized in promoting public and media attention to the seriousness of eating disorders and for working to improve education about their biological and environmental causes, as well as how to help those who are struggling with these debilitating diseases;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 25 to March 3, 2019 be declared "Eating Disorders Awareness Week" in New Mexico in conjunction with the observance of national eating disorders awareness week; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor and the chair of the board of directors of the national eating disorders association.

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