The Brain ... It Is Time to Start Using It.

The Brain.

A Biologically Based Disease.

Hormonal Imbalance.

Endocrine Deficiency.

When talking about eating disorders today, how often do you hear counselors, nutritionists, medical directors at treatment centers or doctors explain and emphasize these terms when discussing eating disorders?  For that matter, how many of our primary care physicians, pediatricians or general practitioners even know that these terms pertain to eating disorders?

On March 17, 2018, I gave a TEDx talk at the TEDxOakLawn event here in Dallas, Texas.  The presentation was entitled, "Let there be Light - A Bold Solution to the Ineffective Treatment of Eating Disorders."  One of the talking points was addressing the current state of medical training about eating disorders. The following facts were mentioned:  

1.  In an average, three-year medical residency program, our doctors are receiving on average, ONE HOUR of eating disorder training.  (I did congratulate those in attendance that after listening to my presentation for 15 minutes, that they had now received 1/4 of the total education on eating disorders that our medical professionals are receiving.

2.  In 2012, the American Medical Association offered its members an optional 17 minute online course on eating disorders. Only .04% of eligible members viewed that course. That is for every 1000 medical professionals, only FOUR bothered to educate themselves.

3.  A few months ago, I was assisting a family in Maine in their complaint against a doctor with their State Board of Medical Examiners.  In its ruling, Maine's State Board issued this finding: “This case is colored by educated parents trying to get state of the art care from a state known to have slim resources for this condition.”

The disease that has the highest mortality rate amongst all mental illnesses is being referred to by the very State Agency which oversees the discipline and education of its medical professionals as a "condition"  Oh... and we are sorry you good people in the State of Maine, but we do not have the resources to educate our medical professionals so you and your loved ones will just have to soldier on.  For that to be a state’s official position on this disease is irresponsible at best … reprehensible at worst.

And yet, going back in time, in the early 1900s, the belief of the medical industry was that eating disorders were thought to be physical diseases due to a medical condition, hormonal imbalances or endocrine deficiencies.  And at that time, the medical industry was going in the right direction!  But, primitive and flawed, or non-existent technology doomed any progress or advancement.  And then, “modern medicine” came into the picture. 

So today, how is “modern medicine” trying to render treatment to people suffering from this deadly disease?  In essence, by attempting to “talk it to death” and by throwing prescription drugs at the symptomology. Family Based Therapy the Maudsley Method,  CBT, DBT, Equine Therapy, Art Therapy, Dance Therapy, Yoga Therapy.  Depending on with whom you talk and the specific year, each of these therapies alone or in combination hold the key!  Perhaps as long as you can afford to keep coming back time and time again and perpetuate the “treatment cycle.” And all the while, they are ignoring the key component to possible recovery … research and treatment into the brain.

Now I am not a doctor, I do not play a doctor on television and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.  Doctors like our Carrie McAdams at UT Southwestern and Walter Kaye at UC San Diego have damaged or killed more brain cells drinking martinis than I have active in my head. Yet, I can muddle through research and can connect dots. I also know when a system is broken and needs to be overhauled. So, as little closed groups of parent advocates fight amongst themselves over petty squabbles and argue about which program is best on social media and the “image of the messenger becomes more important than the power of the message,” let’s take a quick look at the brain … and what can possibly be explored.

Many research scientists believe that eating disorders process in certain parts of the brain including the insula and as the insula processes feelings of hunger, and other sensations such as taste, flavor and texture the anterior cingulated cortex then becomes involved in terms of decision making and anticipation of reward.  Finally, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (the brain region associated with the ability to manage negative emotions and impulses), gets involved and hopefully, regulates self control.  And yet, depending on the type of eating disorder, those brain areas process information differently.  What we do know is that studies are showing a dysfunctional development and/or hormonal imbalance, endocrine deficiency and electrical activity in those parts of the brain.

So, what happens in the brain of a person with an eating disorder?  According to doctors like Carrie McAdams, there is a weak sense of self, the patient believes that something is wrong with them, they do not fit in, but as their thought process muddles through a white curtain of noise and distraction they think that by changing their appearance will change how they feel about themselves through dieting, bingeing, purging. And the starvation and purging behavior negatively impact the levels of protein in the blood and the neural circuitry related to how they perceive others and themselves which could actually perpetuate the cycle of the disease. So, can this be addressed and changed and if so, how do we change this?

One possible solution is Photobiolmodulation. Studies show the brains of people with treatment resistant eating disorders are not functioning normally.  As previously stated, there is a lack of electrical activity and reduced hormones in those certain parts of the brain. Some studies have also shown that near infrared light treatment penetrates the skull and dermis, stimulates the mitochondria in brain cells, which then releases nitric oxide and Adenosine Triphosphate. Nitric oxide is absorbed by the nucleus, which then through its interaction with ribosomes releases oxytocin, dopamine, endorphins, and other natural neural hormonal secretions. This increases electrical activity and hormonal production flowing into those areas of the brain.  

Photobiomodulation is designed to quiet the noise by regenerating activity on a cellular level in the brain by increasing electrical activity, hormonal production, and regeneration of cellular activity. So instead of hearing a curtain of white noise, a patient can hear and process clear, life affirming messages while significantly reducing their dependence on prescription drugs. Further, it empowers the patient to take control over their recovery program to a greater degree and more importantly, it gives HOPE.  Not just hope for the person suffering, but the family and those who love the person afflicted.

Will it work?  There is tremendous promise.  Is it a cure all?  I do not believe anything is a “cure all” for this insidious disease and our loved ones will continue to die.  But, if we can get off this horrid merry-go-round of death, if we can look forward with the courage of our convictions, if we embrace the possibilities afforded by new technology and progressive thinking, the future could be bright. We have a given problem to solve. If we undertake a bold solution, there is of course always a danger that we may initially fail … that we may not solve the problem at first; but to refuse to undertake a bold solution simply renders it a certainty that we cannot possibly solve the problem.

A Program Dies ... And the Industry Weakens

First, apologies on my absence the past few months.  Grief is a curious emotion.  We can float along in a fog passing as life for the longest time and then, the permanence of a loss abruptly grabs our heart and our throat and threatens to squeeze the last vestige of life from us. And yet persevere we must and we shall.

On March 12, 2018, Texas Health - Presbyterian Hospital ("Presby") announced that it was discontinuing and closing its eating disorder program after being in existence for over 20 years.  Now, Presby is a not-for-profit hospital. It's last medical director, Dr. Melissa Pennington left the program in 2015 and Texas Health was unable to restaff her position.  And yet, one of the foremost research scientists in the United States specializing in the brain and eating disorders, Dr. Carrie McAdams of UT Southwestern was associated with the Presby program, spent every Thursday at the facility, conducted both parent and patient groups and was instrumental in the excellence achieved by the program.  Dr. McAdams' credentials and reputation are beyond reproach.

Eating disorders are approaching epidemic levels in the United States and abroad.  Of the 325 million people living in the United States, it is estimated (on the low side) that approximately 30 million people have or will have an eating disorder.  This exceeds the population in the State of Texas.

Its severity is similarly well known.  It has the highest mortality rate amongst all mental illnesses.  Once every sixty-two minutes, someone dies as a direct result of an eating disorder.  And yet, the oldest program in North Texas is closing their doors.  And it is time to conduct an autopsy.

In anticipation of the growing number of eating disorder patients, Presby expanded its facilities As a not-for-profit hospital, Presby accepted Medicaid, Medicare and Tri-Care.  However, it is well known that these government-subsidized insurance programs do not pay sufficiently to sustain an eating disorder program.  This is, in great part why the "for-profit" facilities do not accept these government based programs.  And in not accepting Medicaid, Medicare and Tri-Care, one cannot help but wonder how much that is perpetuating the myth/reality that this is simply a "rich little white girl's disease." The well-to-do, mainly Anglo parents of children have health insurance in place and the insurance entities are more than happy to continue to accept insurance premiums while looking at the slightest pretext to deny coverage safe and comfortable in the knowledge that their insurance contracts do not have to comply with the current accepted medical standards set forth by the American Medical Association and American Psychiatric Association.

Shortly after Presby's expansion, the Eating Recovery Center of Denver, which had just opened a facility in Plano, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, announced that it was supplementing its program by including a 24/7 in-patient unit.  ERC is a for profit, multi-state, multi-facility conglomerate.  It has the financial resources and marketing reach to take many patients with different types of insurance.  It also has the financial resources to buy marketing advertisements on different internet platforms.  In short programs like ERC are comparable to Wal-Mart putting Sears, Roebuck and Mom and Pop stores out of business.  But, at what price is a soul sold?

Questions need to be directed at the for profit programs such as: 

1. What is your recidivism rate?  

2. What is your leaving against medical advice rate?  

3. How often do your doctors make medical decisions and decisions regarding transitioning out of your program versus how often does the applicable insurance company make those decisions?  

4. How does your program minimize the use of potentially addictive, dangerous prescription drugs?  

5. In terms of recovery-based and evidence based terms, how does your program compare to academia based programs?  

6. Does your program utilize LPC interns and if so, exactly how are they supervised?

7. How many minority patients have you treated in-patient in the last 12 months?

8. What exactly is your protocol for coordinating treatment with the patient's treatment team when they return home?

9. Does your protocol for after-care include sending the patient's notes to the treatment team at home so the transition is smooth?

And yet, the issue which causes the greatest concern is ... whether the for-profit centers in some way perpetuate the cycle of treatment such that the patient feels comfortable with the treatment center ... and when the patient inevitably lapses and satisfies the insurance carrier's criteria for in-patient care, they are anxious to return to the place that brought them in their minds, the greatest comfort .. and all the while, they are merely cogs in the financial well-being of the for-profit facility.

Nefarious and unrealistic? Or ... is it.

After Presby's demise, I am not aware of any eating disorder treatment programs in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico or Louisiana which accept Medicare patients.  That translates to approximately 40 million people in the United States, or approximately 12% of its population cannot get help unless they have some type of insurance in place which covers eating disorders.  And according to sources with whom I have spoken, this a growing problem universally across the country.  Large, behavioral for-profit facilities are getting exclusive and in-network agreements with insurance providers to the exclusion of academic single sites which combine state of the art thinking and progressive therapy with the latest research on mental health.

The eating disorder community is significantly weaker when the academic single sites are forced to close.  Perpetuation of the cycle of this disease results in more lives being ripped away by this insidious disease and no real solution or broad treatment protocols are allowed to evolve.  We cannot keep ignoring the biological and genetic causes of this disease while using our loved ones as "cannon fodder" for this disease.

The winds of change... the winds of litigation war are starting ... and will only get stronger.

Light Morgan's Candle on Christmas 2017

Christmas is upon us. A time for rebirth of our faith and hope for the future. We are reminded so vividly of the very first Christmas present... a parent’s love for their child. 

Time has marched on as it does and has done its worst. And yet once again, I am asking you to light a candle on Christmas Day.

Last year on Christmas Day, candles were lit literally around the world… California, Oregon, Indiana, New York, Virginia, Florida, Oklahoma, other states and of course, our own beloved Texas.  Even Germany, England and Australia checked in and showed candles which burned brightly on that day bringing the light of love and hope to an otherwise darkened heart and in remembrance of my beloved daughter, Morgan. 

The journey after my beloved daughter, Morgan was taken on October 30 2016 has been unexpected, unforeseen and draining. And in many ways, has just begun.  

At Morgan's "Celebration of Life," when I spoke, I said that she had "The Heart of a Lioness and the Soul of a Warrior." And yet after that time, I came to grips with the reality that my anguish manifested itself in a barely controlled internal rage. I instinctively knew that unless I got very busy addressing that rage, keeping it at bay, it would consume me.  And in that rage, or despite that rage, a path began to be revealed. My soul was revealed and its purpose was made clear. I now firmly believe that we are subjected to the trials and tribulations in life to not only test our will, but to groom us, to prepare us for an ultimate challenge that could by its immensity, otherwise break us. However, each and every day is a challenge.  A challenge of the heart.  A challenge of the soul. 

2017 saw the birth of The Morgan Foundation. My daughter is dead.  And “business as usual” is not acceptable. I have found that the eating disorder industry is a mess of self-interest, silo mentality and provincial thought processes with very little innovative thinking.  They are putting a “my little pony” band-aide on a compound fracture.  That is not acceptable. 

So this past year, a few television appearances, producing three part radio shows on eating disorders, TEDx talks, writing white papers and blogs, helping a number of young people get back into treatment and now, pursuing legislation (through political advisors) to amend the Texas Organ Donation law to include tissue and other biologic material.  So, why is this important?  These materials from people who die as a result of mental illnesses can go to UT Southwestern and other research institutions for study and research into not only eating disorders but all mental illnesses.  And that is only the first step. 

That rage has been controlled by my soul.  And I have given myself over to let events come to me on this path.  And yet, I will never give up.  I will never relent. There is too much work to do… too many lives to save. And the mission that Morgan started as set forth in her journals will be carried forward by her foundation.

Morgan’s Christmas gift to me last year is repeated again this year and will be repeated every year … that is a child’s unconquerable, unstoppable, unconditional love for her daddy.  For truly, if a parent's love for their child is the very first Christmas gift, then surely, a child's love for their parent... that candle of life, burning so brightly in a parent's heart and soul is the perfect way to say "thank you" for that first Christmas gift.

Once again on Christmas Day or Evening, 8 weeks and one year to the moment she left me, I will light a candle in Morgan's honor, will recite the Lord's Prayer and will look to our tomorrow's with hope, with faith, with strength, with resolve and with love.  

I feel darkness and anguish gripping me as it never has before. And yet, I still pray, I hope for one brief moment, one silent moment, I will find peace.  I urge all of you for just one perfect moment on one silent night...not just in your head, but in your heart and in your soul, rejoice that you are loved and that you love others. Hug your children, tell them you love them, and know, know for an absolute certainty, that the love you feel is unconditional and all powerful. 

One candle to light the way.  To illuminate the darkness.

And Sometimes ... an Angel Appears

This year will be the second Christmas since my beloved Morgan was taken.  And the pain is deeper this year.  I believe that for those of us who have had a beloved child taken from life, the first year we largely live in a state of shock.  It is almost as if we cannot believe it happened.  It is only after that one-year anniversary that the permanence of the loss hits.  And just when you think a scar on your heart cannot increase in size ... it does.

Well, the Holidays are now upon us.  Despite getting the Christmas tree, decorating it, going to several Holiday related shows, decorating the place with poinsettias, setting up a box for toys to take to Children's Medical Center ... this month has been more of an overwhelming reminder of who was taken and the pain that was gripping me.  I was fighting that depression monster every day and for the first time in a long time, I felt that monster was winning. However, it seems like in our greatest hour of despair, when we need a sign that our soul is still alive, the unexpected happens and a divine hand is extended to lift us up.

I received permission to put a large, decorated box in the lobby of my complex. Along with The Something for Kelly Foundation, The Morgan Foundation is going to take donated toys and stuffed animals to the Children's Medical Center. So, here it is, December 12 and I am talking with some of the management staff, when suddenly a gentleman probably in his mid-30s walks up and hears what we are talking about. He then jumps into the conversation and says, "Holy Cow.. I have a good friend who has a room full of stuffed animals that are new! You are going to need a bigger box!" Of course, that made me feel like something good is still happening and a number of kids will have more than they thought at Christmas.  And  yet, even then, I did not necessarily feel my soul being uplifted.

Then, the divine happened.

He the said, "By the way, if you know of any young people in the building here, bring them in front in about 10 minutes. I have friends who are firefighters who are bringing over two fire trucks." We stood there for just a second, and someone asked him why they were coming.  It was at that inopportune time that I got a phone call and had to step away for a moment.

As I came back, the two fire trucks were in front of the building ... lights on, wheels chocked. I talked to a few people who were standing nearby and then, I see this young boy ... he couldn't have been more than 10 years old or so. I looked at Shawn, one of the management people. He pulls me aside and said that they were just told that this 10 year old boy has an incurable disease and will be probably be gone in a few months. Naturally, my eyes teared up right away as I knew the pain which lay ahead for his parents.

And yet, as I looked at this boy, who knew his time was going to be short, he was so animated! He was laughing, waving his arms, putting the fireman's helmet on, he worked the siren, and a joy, a sweet, innocent wonder just emanated from him.  All I could do was stand there and look at him.  His hair neatly combed, his face absolutely glowing.  His smile was this incredible, pure expression of the joy and love that surely must have been in his heart.  There were about 6 firemen around him ... most had tears in their eyes and tried to look away so the boy would not see that. And in that boy's presence... you could feel a divinity at work.

That boy could not possibly know the gift he was giving everyone on that day and at that time.  A gift of strength, of love, of courage. A gift that reminds us of the incredible beauty that exists within the soul.  I recall Shawn saying how it was so unfair that sometimes the best ones are taken so young.  And then a few words came to me and without a second thought, I said, "Well, maybe God needs him more than we do right now. And look around, his soul will always be with us."

I know that for obvious reasons, this experience was put before me.  And for those who believe in Angels on earth (as I do), I have no doubt that I was afforded a brief glimpse of an Angel.  I was given a reminder of the path I surely must remain on and renewed strength to carry on with Morgan’s mission.
 

This incredible gift, the brief glimpse of this child, this Angel was surely the best Christmas present a grieving father could possibly receive.  And my suffering soul is quieter, is more at peace and has renewed strength to carry on the battle.  In keeping with The Morgan Foundation’s mission … It’s about saving lives … One Precious Life at a Time.

A Hope for the Future ... Or Naive Pipe Dream?

In past postings, you have read of discontent with the eating disorder industry, discontent with the manner in which this insidious disease seems to be downplayed by society and frustration with fathers or other persons who do not invest themselves to act proactively.

As a community and industry, we seem to be reactive, to trumpet the latest purported "breakthrough" with whichever form of counseling seems to be in vogue, while embracing the ever increasing number of pharmaceutical "solutions" designed to address the symptomology of this disease.

Certainly, counseling will always be a very important part of the equation to combat the disease.  At yet at the same time, we must find a way to better empower those who are suffering from this disease so that they feel like they at least, in part, control their own recovery.

The following proposal is certainly not designed to be a "cure all" nor an all encompassing answer to the complexities of eating disorders.  But, it may be a bold, new frontier different than prior limited trials of vaguely similar types of therapy which were not even given an opportunity to establish a toehold in the eating disorder industry.

In any event, The Morgan Foundation chooses to explore this frontier... no raising money for more counseling on the back end, no flowers, no butterflies, no rainbows all of which merely put a band aide on a broken leg.  We choose to be bold.  We choose to dare. And if we initially fail, we choose to try again.  We are the Storm.

One Year ...

One year. 12 months. 365 days.  8760 hours. 525,600 minutes. 31,536,000 seconds.

How do we measure a year?

For some, we look back and realize that a year has seemingly dragged by with the droll slowness of watching paint dry.  And yet, in other ways, we look upon that same period of time, we blink our eyes, the passage of time has transported us recklessly ahead at the speed of light and we wonder where that time went.  When we break down a year into months, we see the number 12, a number that is relatively small and easily understood. But, when we break down a year into seconds, the thought of over 31 million measurements of time seems daunting and overwhelming.

For a parent, when  their beloved child is taken from life, the shock, the anguish to the heart, the mind, and the soul is incomprehensible.  As that first year elapses, a parent looks back upon the year wondering how fast that year flew by.  "It only seems like yesterday!  I remember her incredible smile and laughter so vividly!" And at the same time, as those 31,536,000 seconds elapse, a parent looks back upon that time and feels each second slowing ticking away as if each second was a small cut to their body, their life blood dripping with each cut, feeling the pain with each passing second... and dreading the seconds to come. Tick ... Tick.

With eating disorders, when a child or loved one is taken by this insidious disease, perhaps the best part of our heart is taken as well.  Their lives are not extinguished quickly.  The process is slow and painful. Tick Tick. When the doctor quietly says, "She's gone." In a blink of an eye,  you feel, you know the best part of your heart has died as well.

Naturally, all doctors and counselors look a parent squarely in the eye and say, "It is not your fault.  Parents are not to blame."  The eating disorder industry is very quick to point out that parents are not to blame.  My reply would be, "Have you had a beloved child ripped away by this damnable disease?  I have."  And no matter what you are told, or what the literature states, you always question and wonder if you could have done more, and with perfect clarity in hindsight, you come up with all of these wonderful, alternative ways you would have changed up the treatment plans or programs who tried to save the life of your child. You also know for an absolute certainty, that those thoughts will be part of who you are until your dying day, each and every day. Tick... Tick.

And the only remaining issue is, will those thoughts destroy you ... or will they fill you with this incredible resolve and strength.  Besides Biblical references, there are at least two inspirational writings that I reflect upon in times of need.  The first, from Dylan Thomas states, "Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day, Rage, Rage against the dying of the light."  The second, from President Teddy Roosevelt states, "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in a gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."

A few months before Morgan was taken, someone was talking with her in our apartment.  It had been a particularly difficult day, the eating disorder demon was living strongly in our place and I felt old and worn out.  This person told Morgan, "Morgan, can't you see what this is doing to your dad.  He looks broken."  I then overheard her voice with clarity, strength  and perhaps even some anger, say, "My daddy is not broken!  He will never break! He is strong and can survive anything!" And so we shall.

Many people have approached us expressing their admiration for what we have done in the past 365 days.  They wonder how we could have done so many things in that time frame and they openly say that they do not believe they could have reacted as we have. However, it is as if the work we have done, what little there has been done, was not the result of a conscious decision.  It was not a calculated choice on our part. It is simply the outward manifestation of a soul's purpose and mission.  That purpose manifested itself in the soul of an incredible young lady and the mission was set forth in Morgan's Journals and reflected in the outpouring of love we received beginning 365 days ago.

And so, today is not an "Angelversary."  There will be no flowers, no butterflies, no rainbows no unicorns in this posting. Be sad or sorrowful for awhile if that is what your heart needs. I know I certainly am sad.  There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of her and miss her.  She was my "twin." Tears come and will continue to come.  But, in that sorrow comes additional clarity.  I now truly  and completely understand what Morgan meant when she said, "My daddy is not broken!  He will never break!"  Morgan was not talking about my physical body. She was not talking about my intellect. She was talking about my soul.  Perhaps she sensed it. Perhaps she knew I needed to get out of my own way and let my soul find me and its purpose made clear. And so, it was.

On this day, inspiration is revealed.  Inner strength continues to grow. We have a plan in place.  We have some incredible partners and supporters who share our vision. Eating Disorders absolutely did their worst.  And yet here we stand, stronger, more resolute than ever.  The Army of Warrior Angels is restless. And, so too, I hope the Army left here on earth just as restless and ready for action.

The Heart of a Lioness and Soul of a Warrior.  Do not just let them be words.

We are coming. And we will save lives ... One Precious Life at a time.

Anorexia ... Like Bulimia Except With Self Control

On October 2, 2017, on-line retail giant Amazon advertised for sale, a black, hoodie sweatshirt with the following words, emblazoned in day-glo pink, "anorexia (an-uh-rek-see-uh) Like Bulimia except with self control." Apparently, it has been listed off and on since 2015.

This follows on the heels of another "hilarious" t-shirt for sale on Amazon which reads, "I have an eating disorder, I'm about to eat dis order of fries, dis order of nachos and dis order of wings." And of course, we must start them young.  Amazon lists a baby bib on sale which simply states, "I beat Anorexia."

Finally, Amazon still lists a hoodie and a number of sweatshirts which read, "Got Anorexia?" (a parody of the old, "Got Milk?" commercials).

Predictably and understandably, the eating disorder community, and by this I mean the various foundations, groups on Facebook and other social media sites and parents' groups wrote various emails to Amazon, threatened boycotts, the internet print media picked up the angst and published a number of articles on the insensitivity of the message.  Again predictably, Amazon pulled down the offending hoodies from its website.  And yet, as this blog is being published, we still await Amazon's public apology, a statement confirming all revenue realized from the sale of the clothing will be donated to eating disorder foundations and a commitment to greater education and research of this disease. Don't hold your breath.

After the anger and “strongly worded letters” to Amazon, and after the offending item was removed from its site, the eating disorder community was apparently placated and has focused its attention on other matters.  They pat themselves on the back for a job well done and move on.  However, in reality, it is a job not even half done.

Does society treat other diseases with such a cavalier attitude?  Cancer? For the next three weeks, we are going to see bands of women dressed in hideous shades of pink parading on our streets reminding us of breast cancer. Heart disease? Leukemia? HIV?  Why eating disorders for such derision?  23 people are dying every day as a direct result of eating disorders.  Where is the outrage?  Where is the corporate responsibility?  Why isn’t the eating disorder community up in arms regarding the fact that society today has not invested itself to save the lives of 23 people a day? Perhaps  the very uncomfortable answer can be found by the eating disorder community by looking into a mirror.

In early November, the National Binge Eating Disorder Association is hosting its national conference in Brooklyn, New York.  It has partnered with the larger National Eating Disorder Association for this event.  Its main sponsors include Monte Nido & Affiliates (eating disorder related), Oliver-Pyatt Centers (eating disorders), Eating Recovery Center, Metro Behavioral Health Associates Eating Disorder Treatment Center.

And yet, ten of the Fortune 100 wealthiest corporations in the United States are based in New York. According to Forbes, the top three most prestigious law firms in the United States are all located in New York City.  Six of the top 35 wealthiest foundations in the world are located in New York City.  New York City is home to some of the most powerful persons and companies in practically all industries.  And what do all of these entities have in common?  None are participating or are listed as sponsors for the BEDA event …and never have been.

Then there is the larger, National Eating Disorder Association which is based in Manhattan.  At their 2016 national conference, their top-of-the-line gold sponsors were listed as; Center for Discovery, Eating Recovery Center, McCallum Place Eating Disorder Centers, Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders.

The Academy for Eating Disorders, a global professional association comprised of doctors, professionals, research scientists, and counselors held their annual conference, the International Conference on Eating Disorders in June 2017 in beautiful Prague, in the Czech Republic.  Their sponsors?  Again, all eating disorder related entities.

The point?  Are eating disorders this deadly disease taking the lives of people every 62 minutes or not?  Do eating disorders have the highest mortality rate amongst all mental diseases or not? We know the answer to those questions. This disease does not discriminate. It impacts people across socio-economic, racial, and national origin boundaries. It is the perfect killer. And it appears as if the eating disorder industry is fully content to stay within its own shell, to not wander outside of its protected silos, to not bring, kicking and screaming if need be, companies, foundations, law firms and corporations which are not on the surface, related to eating disorders into the fold. If the eating disorder industry approaches the wealthiest foundations in the world and are told, “no,” are we content with that answer and go away? Or do we not understand that “no” can mean, “not yet,” or “try again.”

These points apparently have been lost or not explored and the eating disorder industry remain insular and largely ineffective ...  with one notable exception.  Amongst all of the eating disorder foundations, community and industries, I could only locate one instance where one foundation understands that we must find growth outside of the industry. This past May, I had the privilege of attending the Ninth Annual East Coast Gala for Project HEAL.  Some of their sponsors included; Johnson and Johnson, the Fusion Education Group, and The Liebhamer Family. In California, Project HEAL enlists the support of Arianna Huffington and San Francisco 49ers president, Paraag Manathe. On line, Project HEAL states that it has reached out to business, social, and thought leaders in Silicon Valley. Project HEAL was started by Kristina Saffran and Liana Rosenman who met while they were in treatment.  Both of these exceptional women are under the age of 30, and despite not having decades of business experience to call upon, they have wisdom far beyond their chronological years and have clarity of vision. They obviously see that change in the industry is necessary and are working toward this.

So, we will remain asking where are the Amazons, the ebays, the Microsofts, Apples, and American Airlines? Where are the major law firms? They certainly have employees who are being ravaged by this disease. And yet, they, like our politicians and society in general remain on the sidelines passively watching this disease repeatedly win this macabre Game of Death it plays with us.

The eating disorder industry and community can no longer be content with merely writing “sternly worded letters.” We must learn to “think big” and to “act big.” We must push for the incredible power and wealth of the industrialized world to support us.  We must learn to think outside the box, to show these corporations that it is in their employees’ best interest to embrace the eating disorder industry and our efforts to stop the spread of this insidious disease.  Until we do this with strength and conviction, we will remain a punch line for jokes that are displayed on sweatshirts and hoodies.