Eating Recovery Center Offers Five Reasons Eating Disorders are among Most Dangerous Health Issues Facing Women - to Raise Awareness during National Women’s Health Week

More than 10 million women in the United States struggle with an eating disorder. To raise awareness and understanding during National Women’s Health Week (May 10-16, 2009), Eating Recovery Center, the premier treatment center for eating recovery, shares the top five reasons, supported by statistics from the National Eating Disorders Association, that eating disorders are among the most dangerous health issues facing American women today.

1. Eating disorders affect millions of women. 10 million women in the United States struggle with an eating disorder. 80 percent of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance. Four out of 10 Americans have either suffered or have known someone who has suffered from an eating disorder.
2. Eating disorders are the deadliest mental illness with mortality rates of up to 20 percent. The mortality rate of eating disorders is 12 times higher than the annual death rate due to all causes of death among females ages 15-24 in the general population. Death is most commonly due to suicide, heart failure, or other medical complications associated with the eating disorder.
3. Eating disorders can lead to significant health issues. When left unchecked, anorexia nervosa will starve the body of essential nutrients and can cause liver or kidney failure, heart problems and osteoporosis. Bulimia nervosa can do significant damage to the mouth, stomach and esophagus and can lead to serious dental problems, peptic ulcers or gastric and esophageal ruptures.
4. Anorexia and bulimia have a high rate of relapse, as much as 30 to 50 percent. Because anorexia and bulimia are complicated, multi-faceted diseases, individuals with eating disorders may require ongoing treatment to achieve a lasting recovery.
5. Eating disorders don’t discriminate. 27 percent of girls ages 12 to 18 have significant eating disorder symptoms. 31 percent of female college students have an eating disorder.

“Eating disorders are complex conditions that can arise from a variety of potential causes and affect a wide demographic of American women – including children and teens,” explains Dr. Ken Weiner, medical director of the Eating Recovery Center and national expert in the treatment of eating disorders. “It’s vital that anyone dealing with these terrible diseases seek the appropriate treatment for their condition as soon as they can.”

Early detection and intervention has been proven to increase the chance of full recovery. It is essential for the person with the illness to get a professional assessment from a practitioner trained in eating recovery. For more information, please call 877.825.8584 or visit http://www.eatingrecoveryinfo.com.

About the Eating Recovery Center
Located in the heart of Denver’s medical district, the Eating Recovery Center is the only facility in the Rocky Mountain region that offers adults a full spectrum of eating recovery treatment options. Services offered include inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization and outpatient programs to meet each patient’s unique needs. The Eating Recovery Center combines highly-trained medical staff with a unique integrated treatment philosophy to make each patient's successful recovery a life-restoring event. For more information, visit http://www.eatingrecoveryinfo.com/.