Friday, November 10, 2006

News Flash: Anorexia Is a Brain Disease, Says NIMH

The press release below will hardly be news to those of us who have had personal experience with anorexia. But to the rest of the world, it's a news flash, all right.

And to families who are struggling to get sleazy insurers to cover the cost of their children's life-saving treatment, this could make all the difference. Note to insurers: All the recent research on eating disorders shows a strong genetic and biological component to the disease. The suffering of those with anorexia is real and based in biology. Pay up--or have the suffering and deaths of children on your corporate conscience.
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NIMH Director States Anorexia is a "Brain Disease"
Today NEDA released a letter received from Thomas R. Insel, MD, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Insel wrote the letter in response to a request made by participants at the 2006 NEDA Conference. The landmark statement issued in the letter that anorexia is a “brain disease” may well help thousands of families struggling with insurance companies to pay for their loved one’s treatment. For details or to link to today’s NY Times article, visit: http://www.NationalEatingDisorders.org. Please thank Dr. Insel for taking the time to assist us in our efforts to improve access to quality treatment! He can be reached c/o nimhinfo@nih.gov.

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