EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE i 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES (• 
Second Regular Session
SENATE 
S. No. 2179
DATE
TtME
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
TO PROVIDE EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS, PREVENTION, AND 
EDUCATION AMONG ELEMENTARY, SECONDARY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, 
THEIR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
With heavy consumption of social media nowadays, many adolescents and 
youth, especially females, have become prone to developing unhealthy concerns about 
their body image, weight and shape, and in the long run, cultivated body 
dissatisfaction, negative self-image and low self-esteem. Amid the prevalent notion of 
being thin as being healthy and attractive, some would resort to extreme dieting and 
harmful eating behaviors.
While this is a simplistic view of eating disorders which are triggered by a 
myriad of risk factors - biological/genetic, environmental, psychological and emotional 
- these conditions are serious health issues and potentially life threatening. For 
instance, anorexia nervosa (an eating disorder characterized by self-starvation, severe 
food restrictions, and excessive weight loss) has numerous complications such as 
anemia, bone and muscle loss, heart failure, gastrointestinal and kidney problems, 
among others, and could lead to death at its most severe1.
Considering the impact of these eating disorders to our youth, this bill seeks to 
provide awareness and education to students at all levels, as well as to their parents 
and guardians. It also mandates the Department of Health, the Department of
1 https://www.mavoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia-nervosa/svmptoms-causes/svc-2Q353591
1


Education and the Commission on Higher Education to work together and provide 
programs which shaii improve the identification of students with eating disorders and 
train educators and schooi personnei on eating disorder prevention and assistance 
methods. Lastly, this measure requires the same agencies to conduct a study to 
determine the prevalence of eating disorders among students and their effects on the 
educational advancement and achievement.
The immediate passage of this bill is sought.
RAMOTjJ/BONG REVILLA, JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2179
0
DATE
TJME
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
TO PROVIDE EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS, PREVENTION, AND 
EDUCATION AMONG ELEMENTARY, SECONDARY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, 
THEIR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Eating Disorders
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Awareness, Prevention and Education Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. -- It is a policy of the State to protect and promote
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the right of the people to health and instill health consciousness among them. The
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State also recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation building and shall promote
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and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social wellbeing.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall
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mean:
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a) "Eating disorder" means a disturbance in eating behavior, such as extreme
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and unhealthy reduction of food intake (anorexia nervosa) or severe
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overeating (bulimia nervosa and/or binge eating disorder), as well as
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feelings of distress or extreme concern about body shape or weight.
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b) "Anorexia nervosa" means an eating disorder characterized by self-
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starvation, severe food restrictions, and excessive weight loss.


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c) "Bulimia nervosa" means an eating disorder characterized by excessive food
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consumption followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors, such as
3 
forced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, fasting, or excessive exercise.
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d) "Binge eating disorder" means frequent episodes of uncontrolled
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overeating.
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e) "Schools" mean the elementary, secondary and college educational
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institutions.
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f) "DepEd" means the Department of Education.
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g) "CHED" means the Commission on Higher Education.
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h) "DOH" Is the Department of Health.
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i) "Congress" means both the Senate and House of Representatives.
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Sec. 4. Innovative Assistance for the Identiilcation/ Training, and Educationai
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Awareness of Eating Disorders. - The DepEd, CHED, and DOH shall provide programs
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to:
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a) Improve the identification of students with eating disorders - anorexia
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nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other eating disorders,
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not otherwise specified, in order that they may receive appropriate medical
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treatment;
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b) Increase awareness of such disorders among parents and students; and
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c) Train educators such as teachers, school nurses, school social workers,
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coaches, school counselors, and administrators on effective eating disorder
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prevention and assistance methods.
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Sec. 5. Pubiic Service Announcements. - The Secretary, of DepEd and the
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Chairman of CHED, in consultation with the Secretary of DOH, shall carry out a
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program to develop, distribute, and promote the broadcasting of public service
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announcements to improve public awareness, and to promote the identification and
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prevention of eating disorders.
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Sec. 6. Eating Disorders Research and Report. — Not later than eighteen (18)
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months after the enactment of this Act, the DepEd, the CHED, and the DOH shall
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conduct a study on the impact eating disorders have on educational advancement and
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achievement. The study shall:


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a) Determine the prevalence of eating disorders among students and the
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morbidity and mortality rates associated with eating disorders;
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b) Evaluate the extent to which students with eating disorders are more likely
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to miss school, have delayed rates of development, or have reduced
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cognitive skills;
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c) Report on current national and local programs to educate youth about the
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dangers of eating disorders, as well as evaluate the value of such programs;
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and
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d) Make recommendation on measures that could be undertaken to strengthen
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eating disorder prevention and awareness programs.
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Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
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accordingly.
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Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,