Mr. Speaker, food is one of life s greatest pleasures.
Food is also one of life s greatest necessities.
Yet, for many, food is an enemy and the act of eating is torture. It is estimated that five to ten million Americans suffer from eating-related diseases, including anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. As many as 50,000 of these individuals will die as a direct result of eating-related illnesses. High school girls are the most common victims of these deadly diseases, but a significant number of males also experience eating-related problems. However, an often-overlooked consequence of eating disorders is the negative impact they have on a child s educational advancement.