Hundreds Gather in Cherry Creek North to Pay Tribute to Those Touched by Eating Disorders

Mental health champions and local community members whose lives have been touched by eating disorders convened in a candlelight at Fillmore Plaza in Cherry Creek North on Monday, February 23 to commemorate those who have lost their lives to eating disorders, those who continue to struggle with these illnesses and those who have found their way to the light of recovery.

The Eating Disorder Foundation, a Denver-based non-profit committed to education and advocacy initiatives to prevent and eliminate eating disorders, organized the candlelight vigil to raise additional awareness of this widespread disease that afflicts over 11 million people in the United States.
“Eating disorders are not a matter of choice; rather, they are life-threatening diseases that afflict men and women from all walks of life,” explains Saiber. “The lighting of the candles symbolizes the light of recovery and the hope that there can be a future without eating disorders if we raise awareness and connect people with the treatment options they need.”

Eating Disorder Facts:
• Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses, at approximately 18 percent in 20-year studies and 20 percent in 30-year studies.
• One half of 4th grade girls are on a diet.
• In one study, three out of four women stated that they were overweight although only one out of four actually were.
• Two out of five women and one out five men would trade three to five years of their life to achieve their weight goals.
(Statistics courtesy of The Eating Disorder Foundation)

For more information about The Eating Disorder Foundation, please contact Toni Saiber at 303 880 4444 or tonisaiber@aol.com or Lisa Weiner at 303 433 7020 or lweiner@csg-pr.com.

About The Eating Disorder Foundation
The Eating Disorder Foundation is a Denver-based non-profit organization that seeks to raise awareness about eating disorders through targeted education and advocacy initiatives. Founded by revered members of the eating disorders medical community and survivors of these life-threatening illnesses, The Eating Disorder Foundation serves as a comprehensive resource for the general public and the health care community in the collective effort to prevent and eliminate eating disorders. For more information about The Eating Disorder Foundation, please visit http://www.eatingdisorderfoundation.org/index.htm.