Bill Text: NJ AJR33 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates fourth Sunday in February of each year as "Eating Disorders Awareness Day."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-11 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee [AJR33 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-AJR33-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman NANCY F. MUNOZ
District 21 (Essex, Morris, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Designates fourth Sunday in February of each year as "Eating Disorders Awareness Day."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating the fourth Sunday in February of each year as "Eating Disorders Awareness Day" in New Jersey.
Whereas, Eating disorders involve serious disturbances in eating behavior, such as unhealthy and extreme reduction of food intake or overeating, as well as feelings of distress about body weight or shape; and
Whereas, According to the National Eating Disorders Association, as many as 10 million females and one million males in the United States suffer from an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, and approximately 25 million more people suffer from binge-eating disorder; and
Whereas, Anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss; bulimia nervosa is characterized by a cycle of binge eating and compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting to compensate for the effects of the binge eating; and binge-eating disorder is a type of eating disorder not otherwise specified and is characterized by recurrent binge eating without the regular use of compensatory behaviors to counter the binge eating; and
Whereas, An estimated 0.5% to 3.7% of females in the United States will suffer from anorexia nervosa in their lifetimes, an estimated 1.1% to 4.2% of females will suffer from bulimia nervosa, and an estimated 2% to 5% of the United States population will experience binge-eating disorder during any given six-month period; and
Whereas, The mortality rate among people with anorexia nervosa is approximately .56% per year, which is about 12 times higher than the annual death rate due to all causes of death among females 15 to 24 years of age in the general population; and
Whereas, Eating disorders are associated with serious physical health consequences, including irregular heartbeats, heart disease, heart and kidney failures, osteoporosis, gastric rupture, peptic ulcer, tooth decay, obesity, gall bladder disease, diabetes and death; and
Whereas, Eating disorders are also associated with substantial psychological problems, including depression, substance abuse and suicide; and
Whereas, A person who suffers from an eating disorder often experiences tremendous shame and guilt and the disorder is often misunderstood, and these negative feelings and misunderstandings can prevent the person from seeking treatment of eating disorders; and
Whereas, Eating disorders can be treated and a healthy weight restored, but the sooner these disorders are diagnosed and treated, the better the chances are for positive outcomes; and
Whereas, The last week in February is designated as National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and to coincide with the national week of awareness it would be appropriate for New Jersey to designate the day that begins that week as "Eating Disorders Awareness Day" in New Jersey; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The fourth Sunday in February of each year is designated as "Eating Disorders Awareness Day" in the State of New Jersey to increase public awareness of eating disorders, expand research for treatment and a cure, broaden access to treatment, and promote healthful eating habits and a healthy body image.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing the fourth Sunday in February of each year as "Eating Disorders Awareness Day" in the State of New Jersey and calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates the fourth Sunday in February of each year as "Eating Disorders Awareness Day" in the State of New Jersey to increase public awareness of eating disorders, expand research for treatment and a cure, broaden access to treatment, and promote healthful eating habits and a healthy body image.
The joint resolution also requests the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing the fourth Sunday in February of each year as "Eating Disorders Awareness Day" and calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.
The last week of February is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week; the designation of the fourth Sunday in February of each year as "Eating Disorders Awareness Day" in New Jersey would coincide with national awareness of these serious disorders.
