The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) has encouraged the American Medical Association (AMA) to call for the development of better standards of care for children and adolescents with eating disorders and to emphasize the need for eating disorder prevention programs.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Denise Espie, MBA, Communications Director
202.966.7300, Ext. 120
despie@aacap.org
Erin Baker, Communications Manager
202.966.7300, Ext. 119
ebaker@aacap.org
Washington, D.C., June 28, 2007 - The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) has encouraged the American Medical Association (AMA) to call for the development of better standards of care for children and adolescents with eating disorders and to emphasize the need for eating disorder prevention programs.
Leadership at the 2007 AMA Annual Meeting recommended a review of the etiology, incidence, and treatment of eating disorders, as well as strategies to promote early recognition and access to appropriate medical intervention.
"Increased awareness of the signs, symptoms, and seriousness of eating disorders may improve rates of early intervention and treatment," said AACAP President Thomas F. Anders, M.D. "This may contribute to healthier outcomes for these life-threatening conditions."
Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by a total aversion to food and an abnormal fear of gaining weight. Anorexia affects one in 100 adolescent girls between the ages of 10 and 18 and a much smaller number of boys, according to the National Institute of Health.
Bulimia is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of secretive excessive eating (binge-eating) followed by inappropriate methods of weight control, such as self-induced vomiting (purging), abuse of laxatives and diuretics, or excessive exercise. Reported rates of bulimia vary from one to three of every 100 adolescents, according to the National Institute of Health.
Click here to read more about the signs and symptoms of eating disorders. To schedule an interview with a child and adolescent psychiatrist who specializes in treating eating disorders, please contact Erin Baker: ebaker@aacap.org, 202.966.7300 x 119.
Representing over 7,500 child and adolescent psychiatrists nationwide, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is the leading authority on children’s mental health. AACAP members actively research, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children, adolescents, and their families.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is the leading authority on children’s mental health. AACAP members actively research, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children, adolescents, and their families.
Our Facts for Families, available free of charge on the AACAP website, provide concise and up-to-date information on a wide array of issues relating to children’s mental health. Written in a simple, straightforward manner, these 88 one-page fact sheets are valuable to anyone raising or working with children. In addition, the AACAP routinely refers the media to expert spokespeople on child and adolescent issues, and sponsors The Campaign for America’s Kids – an initiative designed to fund an Advocacy Institute for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, with the goal of mental health for all children.
AACAP Mission: The Mission of the AACAP is the promotion of mentally healthy children, adolescents and families through research, training, advocacy, prevention, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, peer support and collaboration.
