FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E "  
S.No. 
~~~~~ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Research shows that an estimated 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 women and girls and 
1,000,000 men and boys suffer from eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, 
bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, as well as eating disorders ,that are not 
otherwise defined. 
Eating disorders usually appear in adolescence and are associated with substantial 
psychological problems, including depression, substance abuse, and suicide. Eating 
disorders can even lead to death. 
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by self-stmation and 
excessive weight loss. It is usually associated with serious health consequences including 
heart failure, kidney failure, osteoporosis, and death. This eating disorder has the highest 
mortality rate of all psychiatric disorders. A young woman is 12 times more likely to die 
than other women her age without anorexia. 
On the other hand, bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by 
excessive food consumption followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors, such as 
self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, fasting, or excessive exercise. It is associated 
with cardiac, gastrointestinal, and dental problems including irregular heartbeats, gastric 
rupture, peptic ulcer, and tooth decay. 


Moreover, binge eating disorder is characterized by frequent episodes of 
uncontrolled overeating. This eating disorder is associated with obesity, heart disease, 
gall bladder disease, and diabetes. 
Eating disorders can have a negative impact on the educational advancement of a 
student, a situation often overlooked and rarely addressed in the nation's schools. 
Educational efforts to prevent eating disorders are of primary importance to the health, 
well being, and academic success of the nation's students. Females are much more likely 
than males to develop an eating disorder. An estimated 5 to 15 percent of people with 
anorexia or bulimia and an estimated 35 percent of people with binge eating disorder are 
male. 
This Act purports to provide local school districts and parents with the means and 
flexibility to improve awareness of, identify, and help students with eating disorders. All 
these endeavors are geared towards ensuring that such individuals receive a high-quality 
education and secure their chance for a bright future. 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
S. No. :!’? 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF EATING DISORDERS 
AMONG FILIPINO CHILDREN 
MANDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Eating Disorders 
Awareness, Prevention, and Education Act of 2008”. 
SECTION 2. Innovative Assistance for the IdentiJication ox Training on, and 
Educational Awareness of Eating Disorders. The Secretary of Education is mandated to 
establish programs to improve the identification of students with eating disorders, 
increase awareness of such disorders among parents and students, and train educators 
(such as teachers, school nurses, school social workers, coaches, school counselors, and 
administrators) on effective eating disorder prevention and assistance methods. 
. .  
SECTION 3. Public Service Announcement. The Secretary of Education, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Health, shall likewise carry out a program to develop, 
distribute, and promote the broadcasting of public service announcements to improve 
public awareness, and to promote the identification and prevention of eating disorders. 
SECTION 4. Eating Disorder Research and Report. Not later than 18 months 
after the enactment of this Act, the School Health and Nutrition Center shall conduct a 
study on the impact eating disorders have on educational advancement and achievement. 
The study shall: 
1 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
A. determine the prevalence of eating disorders among students and the 
morbidity and mortality rates associated with eating disorders; 
B. evaluate the extent to which students with eating disorders are more likely to 
miss school, have delayed rates of development, or have reduced cognitive 
skills; 
. .  
C. report on current local programs to educate youth about the dangers of 
eating disorders, as well as evaluate the value of such programs; and 
D. make recominendations on measures that could be undertaken by the 
Congress, the Department of Education, and local educational agencies to 
strengthen eating disorder prevention and awareness programs. 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive orders, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule and regulation contrary 
'to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or 
amended accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
2