Bill Text: NY J02557 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Resolution 2557 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2-8, 2020, as Eating Disorders Awareness Week in the State of New York

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 40-22)

Status: (Passed) 2020-01-22 - ADOPTED [J02557 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J02557-Introduced.html


Senate Resolution No. 2557

BY: Senator RIVERA

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        March  2-8, 2020, as Eating Disorders Awareness Week
        in the State of New York

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of  this  Legislative  Body  to  recognize
official  weeks  that  are  set  aside  to increase awareness of serious
illnesses that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim  March  2-8,  2020,  as
Eating Disorders Awareness Week in the State of New York, in conjunction
with  the  observance of National Eating Disorders (NED) Awareness Week;
and

  WHEREAS, The 2020 Theme of National Eating Disorder  Awareness  Week
is  "Come  As  You  Are,"  which invites all individuals struggling with
eating disorders to reflect on  the  positive  steps  they  have  taken,
including  those  stemming  from setback or challenges, toward accepting
themselves and others; and

  WHEREAS, In the United States, 20 million women and 10  million  men
suffer  from  clinically  significant  eating  disorders at some time in
their life including Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN),  Binge
Eating  Disorder (BED), or an Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder
(OSFED) and affect people across all racial and ethnic backgrounds; and

  WHEREAS,  Eating  disorders  are   serious   conditions   that   are
potentially   life-threatening   and   have   a  serious  impact  on  an
individual's emotional and physical  health,  including  abnormal  heart
rate,  low  blood  pressure,  and  reduction in bone density; too often,
signs and symptoms are overlooked, and many individuals,  families,  and
communities   are   unaware  of  the  devastating  mental  and  physical
consequences of eating disorders, as well as the  pressures,  attitudes,
and behaviors which shape them; and

  WHEREAS,  The National Eating Disorders Association, which calls New
York  State  its  home,  strives  to  address  the  many  misconceptions
regarding  eating  disorders,  and  to  highlight  the  availability  of
resources for treatment and support; and

  WHEREAS, National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is a  collaborative
effort  consisting  primarily  of  volunteers, including eating disorder
professionals,  health  care  providers,  students,  educators,   social
workers,  and  individuals committed to raising awareness of the dangers
surrounding eating disorders and the need  for  early  intervention  and
treatment; and

  WHEREAS,  Eating  disorders  usually  appear  in adolescence and are
associated   with   substantial   psychological   problems,    including
depression, substance abuse and suicide; they are serious illnesses, not
lifestyle  choices;  in fact, anorexia has the highest mortality rate of
any mental illness; and


  WHEREAS,  Many  cases  of  eating disorders go undetected; less than
one-third  of  youth  with  eating  disorders  will  receive  treatment;
although  primarily  affecting  females,  one  in  every  three  to four
individuals with these illnesses is male; and

  WHEREAS, Eating disorders experts have found that  prompt  intensive
treatment  significantly improves the chances of recovery; therefore, it
is important for educators, medical providers,  parents,  and  community
members  to  be  aware  of  the warning signs and the symptoms of eating
disorders; and

  WHEREAS, National Eating Disorder Awareness Week will highlight  the
fact  that  body  size  and  shape are strongly influenced by biological
factors, while also calling attention to some  of  the  new  discoveries
surrounding the role of genetics in the development of eating disorders;
and

  WHEREAS,  Concerned individuals are asked to talk with others during
National  Eating  Disorder  Awareness  Week,   in   hopes   that   their
participation  will  raise awareness that eating disorders are a serious
illness, provide accurate information to the  medical,  educational  and
business  communities,  and  direct  people  to  potentially  lifesaving
information and resources; and

  WHEREAS, In 2004, New York State took a leading role  in  the  fight
against  eating  disorders  by  establishing  an  integrated  network of
Comprehensive  Care  Centers  for   Eating   Disorders   which   provide
evidence-based treatment to those afflicted throughout the State; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the vital work of National
Eating  Disorder  Awareness Week in promoting public and media attention
to the seriousness of  eating  disorders  and  for  working  to  improve
education  about  their  biological and environmental causes, as well as
how to help those who are struggling  with  this  debilitating  disease;
now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim  March  2-8,  2020,  as
Eating  Disorders  Awareness  Week  in  the State of New York; and be it
further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York and The National Eating Disorders Association.