I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1193 
To amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to eating disorders, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 25, 2009 
Mr. KENNEDY (for himself and Mr. COURTNEY) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in 
addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Edu-
cation and Labor, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to 
eating disorders, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Response to 
Eliminate Eating Disorders Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents of this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
Sec. 3. Findings. 
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Sec. 4. Definition. 
TITLE I—RESEARCH 
Sec. 101. Activities to improve eating disorder-related research and funding. 
Sec. 102. Eating disorders surveillance and research program. 
TITLE II—EDUCATION AND PREVENTION 
Sec. 201. Study of mandatory BMI reporting in school. 
Sec. 202. Training and education. 
Sec. 203. Health professional education and training. 
Sec. 204. Education and training for all health professionals. 
Sec. 205. Education and training for school and higher education professionals. 
Sec. 206. Eating disorder research and report. 
Sec. 207. Public service announcements. 
Sec. 208. Sense of Congress. 
TITLE III—TREATMENT 
Sec. 301. Coverage for treatment for eating disorders under group health plans, 
individual health insurance coverage, and FEHBP. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds as follows: 
(1) Risk of death among individuals with ano-
rexia nervosa is 11 times greater than their same 
age peers without anorexia. 
(2) Health consequences such as osteoporosis 
(brittle bones), gastrointestinal complications, and 
dental problems are significant health and financial 
burdens throughout life. 
(3) 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 eating disorders not otherwise 
specified (EDNOS) (including binge eating dis-
order). The lifetime prevalence of all eating dis-
orders in America is 0.6 to 4.5 percent. 
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(4) Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder char-
acterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. 
An estimated 0.9 percent of American women and 
0.3 percent of American men will suffer from ano-
rexia nervosa in their lifetime. 
(5) Anorexia nervosa is associated with serious 
health consequences including heart failure, kidney 
failure, osteoporosis, and death. 
(6) Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder char-
acterized by excessive food consumption followed by 
inappropriate compensatory behaviors, such as self- 
induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, fasting, or ex-
cessive exercise. An estimated 1.5 percent of Amer-
ican women and 0.5 percent of American men will 
suffer from this disorder in their lifetime. 
(7) Bulimia nervosa is associated with cardiac, 
gastrointestinal, and dental problems including ir-
regular heartbeats, gastric rupture, peptic ulcer, 
tooth decay, and death. 
(8) Binge eating disorder is characterized by 
frequent episodes of uncontrolled overeating. Binge 
eating disorder is common: an estimated 3.5 percent 
of American women and 2.0 percent of American 
men will suffer from this disorder in their lifetime. 
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(9) Binge eating is associated with obesity, 
heart disease, gall bladder disease, and diabetes. 
(10) Many more suffer from some, but not all, 
of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa, bulimia 
nervosa, or binge eating disorder, which is referred 
to as eating disorders not otherwise specified 
(EDNOS). Between 4 percent and 20 percent of 
young women practice unhealthy patterns of dieting, 
purging, and binge eating. 
(11) Eating disorders are more common in 
women, but they do occur in men. Rates of binge 
eating disorder are similar in females and males. 
(12) Eating disorders usually appear in adoles-
cence and are associated with substantial psycho-
logical problems, including depression, substance 
abuse, and suicide. Eating disorders also develop in 
younger children and adults, compromising health 
and daily functioning. 
(13) Eating disorders are found across races, 
ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups in the United 
States. White females are more likely to suffer from 
anorexia, while African-American girls are especially 
vulnerable to developing eating disorders that involve 
binge eating. Body dissatisfaction in young girls has 
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