RESOLUTION NO. 260251

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Sponsor: Councilmember Andrea Bough

RESOLUTION - Declaring the week of February 23 through March 1, 2026, as National Eating Disorder Awareness Week throughout the City of Kansas City, Missouri.

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WHEREAS, this year’s theme for National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, “Fighting for Change, Committed to Change - Every Body Belongs,” recognizes that individuals of all backgrounds and communities are impacted by eating disorders, and with awareness we can commit to change, reminding those impacted that they are not alone in their fight; and

WHEREAS, eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that will affect 30 million Americans at some point in their lives regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, body shape, or weight, with the chances of recovery increasing the earlier an eating disorder is detected; and

WHEREAS, eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness behind opiate addiction, which is why we must advocate for those suffering to seek treatment and support; and

WHEREAS, every 52 minutes someone dies as a direct result of an eating disorder; and

WHEREAS, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are 50% less likely to be diagnosed and receive treatment and are significantly less likely to be asked by a doctor about eating disorder symptoms. Gay men are seven times more likely to report binge-eating and twelve times more likely to report purging than heterosexual men. Transgender college students are diagnosed with disordered eating at approximately 4 times the rate of their cisgendered classmates; and

WHEREAS, we encourage those suffering from an eating disorder to seek support, treatment, and care from local providers such as the Children’s Mercy Eating Disorder Center which takes a multidisciplinary evaluation approach so that the correct course of treatment can be determined and intervention can occur immediately; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby declare February 23-March 1, 2026, as Eating Disorder Awareness Week throughout the City of Kansas City, Missouri; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to the Children’s Mercy Eating Disorders Center with the gratitude of the Mayor and Council for their multidisciplinary evaluation approach to ensure that kids and teens get the right treatment the first time.

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