I will accept myself as I am. My uniqueness is a badge of honor, something to be proud of. There is no one in the world quite like me and I will strive to develop my special skills and abilities.
I will accept others as they are. Each person is special and different. I will to try to learn from these differences rather than be critical of them.
Congressman Kirk and ANAD Urge You to Contact Your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative
Keith Sanderson (right), ANAD Director Communication, met with Congressman Mark Kirk of the Illinois 10th Congressional District to thank him for his support of a Federal mental health parity bill. The two discussed the importance of the bill.
Help make the Federal mental health bill a reality!
The U.S. Senate and House negotiators have reached an historic agreement on the terms for a final full mental health parity bill.
However, Congress must find the money to fund the mental health and addiction parity legislation to offset the estimated loss in federal revenues of nearly 4 billion dollars over the next ten years.
Once an offset has been found, there is commitment from leadership in the House and Senate to bring the bill up for a vote as quickly as possible.
Members of Congress only have a few legislative weeks left for final action on the bill. Please take a minute to call Congress. Don’t let this opportunity slip away.
Action: Contact Your U.S. Senators and Representative.
Targets: All members of the U.S. Congress. Suggested Message:
“I am a constituent and supporter of ANAD – the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.
I am calling to ask for immediate Congressional action to end insurance discrimination facing individuals suffering from eating disorders and other mental illnesses.
The only outstanding issue for passage of a full federal mental health parity bill is finding nearly $4 billion in funding over the next 10 years to pay for the bill.
Please ask the Senate leadership to find money to support this historic mental health parity legislation and ensure that the bill is passed before Congress goes home for recess at the beginning of August.
Amended H.B. 1432, an Illinois bill to add anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa to the Illinois mental health insurance parity law, passed the Illinois General Assembly on May 31, 2008. The House concurred with the amended Senate bill by a vote of 94-20.
The bill is now on the Governor's desk for his signature, the final important step towards enactment.
Action:Call or Write Governor Blagojevich. Please take a moment to call, write, or email the Governor to ask him to sign HB 1432 and tell him why this bill is important to you. ________________________________________________________________________
Film critic Roger Ebert gives America the Beatiful a three star rating.
See the article that ran in the Chicago Sun Times as a result of Mr. Ebert's interview with Darryl Roberts, the creator of America the Beautiful. Click here to read Roger Ebert's Article
America The Beautiful will debut nationally this fall. Don't miss this powerful film by Darryl Roberts!
In 2004, America spent $12.4 billion on cosmetic surgery. The estimated cost
for basic nutrition and health care in developing countries: $13 billion.
If those figures don't convince you that our priorities are skewed, consider
that the real cost of our obsession with youth, beauty and a slender physique
is tallied in an epidemic of eating disorders, complications and death from
unnecessary surgeries, exposure to dangerous toxins in cosmetics, and the
equally toxic effects on a generation of young people. How did we get this
way? Who is harmed by our quest for perfection? And who is profiting from
encouraging the insecurities that fuel that quest? In Darryl Roberts's candid
and far-reaching documentary, we hear from the movers and shakers of advertising,
fashion, entertainment and the media; from educators, health-care professionals
and scientists; and from ordinary men, women and teens. The answers they give
are astounding, with consequences far more than skin deep.
In the first part of her Interview, Kirsten Haglund Miss
America 2008, spoke frankly about her fight with anorexia, her relationship
with her parents and her friends as she battled this dangerous eating disorder.
In the second half of her interview Kirsten blasts pro
anorexia sites that she describes as “toxic”, advices parents what they should
do as role models. In this part of the interview Kirsten compared pro ana sites
to sites that encouraged minors to take drugs, and says she believes parents
would be horrified if they saw the deadly information their daughters were
learning at pro ana sites.
Kirsten Haglund (left) and ANAD Volunteer and U.S. Rhythmics team Member, Kristen Kaye (right) discuss the need to raise awareness of eating disorders and the need to fight deadly online pro anorexia web sites and social networking communities.
Part two of Keith Sanderson's interview with Miss America. Keith: Did you seek support to lose weight among any of your friends when you were going through some of your bad anorexic stages?
Kirsten: Yes, I had a couple friends who were struggling with eating disorders the same time I was. In a way it was kind of contagious.
Tell Us Your Story: Please tell us if you have been denied mental health coverage/treatment by your employer’s group health plan for an eating disorder and how the denial has affected you or your family. My story
The ANAD hotline telephone number is 847-831-3438 or go to ANAD support to send us an e-mail. The ANAD business line 847-433-3996 should be used for all general inquiries, business and media calls.
ANAD P.O. Box 7 Highland Park, IL 60035 Phone: 847-831-3438 Fax: 847-433-3996
The following facilities listed below are ANAD sponsors. If you or someone you know is looking for a patient treatment center, we invite you to click on our sponsors' logos and learn more about the services they provide.
At Timberline Knolls we believe every woman has the
potential to be the best she can be, even if she's been affected by an
eating disorder, addiction, or destructive behavior.
Remuda Ranch provides intensive inpatient and residential programs for women and girls suffering from Anorexia, Bulimia, and other Eating Disorders. Our Christian programs offer Hope and Healing to patients of all faiths.
For more than 700 years, the Alexian Brothers have cared for the
sick, the aged, the poor and the dying. Because we are a Catholic
religious community, we take our inspiration from those basic
Judeo-Christian beliefs which inspired our founders and still govern our
lives and ministry. From the opening of our first Chicago hospital in
1866, to our present and our future at Alexian Brothers Medical Center,
we have cherished but one goal: to promote the physical, mental and
spiritual well-being of all who come to us.
Linden Oaks at Edward. We all have a pretty good idea when we need to see a doctor or
go to the emergency room for our physical health. When it comes to our
mental health, sometimes it just doesn't seem as clear. It's
estimated about half of all Americans will experience a behavioral
health disorder. And anyone can be affected. That's why here at Linden
Oaks, we take care of children, adolescents, adults and the elderly. In fact, you won't find a bigger facility with more qualified people to help you anywhere in the area.
A Future of Hope
2007 is Rogers Memorial's 100th year as a
nonprofit, freestanding mental health hospital. Each year Rogers
Memorial provides nearly 6,000 children, adolescents, adults and older
adults with individualized, evidence-based treatment for mental health
concerns and chemical dependency, as well as research and training for
healthcare professionals.
Contact ANAD for help, support, or more information about eating disorders at:
P.O. Box 7 Highland Park, IL 60035 Phone: 847-831-3438.
ANAD and the contents of this website copyright 2007 by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
Congressman Kirk and ANAD Urge You to Contact Your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative 
Kirsten Haglund (left) and ANAD Volunteer and U.S. Rhythmics team Member, Kristen Kaye (right) discuss the need to raise awareness of eating disorders and the need to fight deadly online pro anorexia web sites and social networking communities.
Do you believe photos affect the perception you have of your body image? 
