RESOLUTION NO. 220185

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Declaring February 21-February 27, 2022, 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, "See the Change, Be the Change" recognizing change within the ever-evolving eating disorder field, and the important work of advocacy, awareness, and community building; and

WHEREAS, this year's theme recognizes that misconceptions about eating disorders can leave people feeling helpless, hopeless, and frightened, while work in building visibility and awareness of resources resulted in a 107% increase in contacts made to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) Hotline since the start of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that affect 28.8 million Americans at some point in their lives no matter their 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, 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; and

WHEREAS, 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 report experiencing disordered eating approximately 4 times the rate of their cisgendered classmates; and

WHEREAS, through awareness we encourage those suffering from an eating disorder to seek support, treatment, and care from our local resources; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby declare Februa...

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