A Turning Point in the War Against Eating Disorders

Oct. 11, 2010 - PRLog -- “After years of working to raise awareness, and educate teens, parents, coaches and teachers about the truth behind eating disorders, the public now gets it”, said Lynn Grefe, CEO of NEDA.

NEDA undertook this national survey to update information collected from Focus Groups six years ago.  “At that time, the stigma of having an eating disorder was very real.  Focus group participants were uncomfortable even talking about having an eating disorder or telling anyone if a family member struggled”, said Grefe.  According to the new survey, 95% of the respondents today would tell someone and seek help if they struggled with the disorder, or would encourage others to get help. Grefe added, “Goodbye Shame, Hello Recovery.”

The new survey also shows the public understands that eating disorders are not lifestyle choices.  Eighty-two percent of respondents believe that eating disorders are a physical or mental illness and should be treated as such, with just 12% believing they are related to vanity.

Fifty-nine percent indicate that public awareness of eating disorders has increased over the past five years and 78% believe they have enough information to know if someone were suffering from an eating disorder.  And, the public indicated they know a great deal or fair amount about eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia, with 57% indicating they knew a great deal or fair amount about bulimia and anorexia nervosa and 51% knew a great deal or fair amount about binge eating disorder.

“These respondents believe that more entities need to join the fight against eating disorders” said Grefe.  Schools have a role to play according to this survey, with 86% favoring (65% strong favoring) schools providing information about eating disorders to students and parents.  The public (85%) also believes that insurance companies should cover treatment for eating disorders.

Finally, when presented with various ways to reduce or prevent eating disorders, the survey found that the public believed each would work including

82% believe providing more prevention programs in schools would reduce or prevent eating disorders;
80% believe conducting more research on the causes and most effective treatments would reduce or prevent eating disorders; and
70% believe encouraging the media and advertisers to use more average sized people in their advertising campaigns would reduce or prevent eating disorders.

For a copy of the just-released survey and key findings memo, and for more information about NEDA, please contact Jeff Cannon at 212 993 6464, or via email at jc@thinkcannon.com .



ABOUT NEDA
These results were released at the annual meeting of NEDA.  Formed in 2001, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders and serving as a catalyst for prevention, treatment and cures. NEDA provides education, advocates for improved access to quality treatment, and increased research funding to better understand and treat eating disorders. NEDA’s national toll-free helpline has helped thousands of families, friends and individuals. NEDA is proud that its website serves as an entry point for people around the globe to find information on eating disorders. The organization serves as an important and welcome first stop for those seeking resources. [www.nationaleatingdisorders.org]


ABOUT AMERICAN VIEWPOINT
This survey was conducted by American Viewpoint, a nationally recognized public opinion research company.  Founded in 1985, American Viewpoint has conducted research for corporation, associations, and others on a variety of topic areas including health care, the environment, women’s issues, energy, as well as many others.  They have also worked in the political arena for candidates and campaigns from the White House to the Courthouse.  Their work on the international front has taken them from Angola to Zimbabwe.






 


KEY FINDINGS

1.   A majority of the public knows either a great deal or a fair amount (57%) about bulimia, anorexia nervosa and 51% know a great deal or fair amount about binge eating disorder.
•   Three in four respondents haven’t had or don’t know someone who has had bulimia or anorexia nervosa.
•   9% of these respondents know someone who has died from an eating disorder.

2.   Public awareness of eating disorders has increased and personal awareness is high, but level of knowledge has not increased.  And, the problem of eating disorders has not declined.  But, 95% of these respondents would seek help or encourage someone else to seek help.
•   59% believe that public awareness of eating disorders has increased over the past five years.
•   78% have enough information to know if someone was suffering from an eating disorder.
•   But, 51% know not too much more or no more at all about eating disorders than they did five years ago.
•   38% believe that eating disorders are a greater problem than five years ago, while 39% believe the level of problem has remained the same.
•   But, the stigma of eating disorders has reversed itself since our Focus Groups six years ago.  Today, 95% would seek help or encourage a person they suspect has an eating disorder to seek help.

3.   The public understands that eating disorders are an illness and caused by hereditary characteristics, but they split on whether healthy eating will solve most eating disorders and, when given more information about Binge Eating Disorder, they don’t change the way they view or treat people with weight problems.    And, they blame the fashion industry and media.
•   82% believe eating disorders are a mental or physical illness and 59% agree that eating disorders are caused by hereditary characteristics.
•   But, the public splits on whether healthy eating will solve most eating disorders, and 56% would not change the way they view people with weight problems even when given information about Binge Eating Disorder.
•   Near majorities blame the fashion industry and the media for eating disorders.  And, 66% believe that magazine and television advertising has a negative impact on body image.  

4.   Strong support exists for providing information about eating disorders in schools, with health teachers and parents the two groups that should be most responsible for providing this information.

5.   The public supports health insurance companies covering treatment for both obesity and eating disorders.





6.   Two-thirds of these respondents know a great deal or fair amount about the current campaign being waged against obesity.  But, the public splits on whether this campaign will result in more people at risk for eating disorders.  

7.   The public believes that various suggestions on ways to reduce or prevent eating disorders will work.  They also find it appropriate for many different types of organizations to fund education and research efforts.  
•   The Internet is the number one source for information about eating disorders, followed by a medical professional.
•   Few know anything about Family Based Therapy or Maudsley.

8.   The public has definite ideas on what the mission of NEDA should be.  They also believe that any spokesperson for a national campaign should come from the medical profession.
•   At this time 9% know a great deal or fair amount about NEDA.  Awareness of NEDA will grow as awareness and knowledge about eating disorders grow and vice-versa.

9.   A positive image about your own body is seen as an important first step by 93% of these respondents.

8.   Young women and Hispanics are key demographics.  Young women, because they know more than other age-gender groups and Hispanics because they know less than whites or African Americans.

# # #

These results were released at the annual meeting of NEDA. Formed in 2001, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders and serving as a catalyst for prevention, treatment and cures. NEDA provides education, advocates for improved access to quality treatment, and increased research funding to better understand and treat eating disorders. NEDA’s national toll-free helpline has helped thousands of families, friends and individuals. NEDA is proud that its website serves as an entry point for people around the globe to find information on eating disorders. The organization serves as an important and welcome first stop for those seeking resources. [www.nationaleatingdisorders.org]