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House panel adopts resolution to boost eating-disorder awareness after Department of Health data added
Summary
The House Management committee unanimously passed House Resolution 10 51, sponsored by Rep. Denise Garner, to promote public education about eating disorders; an amendment updated hospitalization figures with the Department of Health's newest data.
The House Management committee unanimously adopted House Resolution 10 51 on a motion to "do pass," advancing a resolution to educate the public about eating disorders and to mark National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.
Representative Denise Garner, District 20, presented the resolution and said the panel added updated hospitalization information provided by the Arkansas Department of Health to the resolution text during the meeting. "We've just changed the hospitalization information to the Department of Health's newest information for the resolution," Garner said as the amendment was passed.
The resolution frames eating disorders as a continuing public-health and economic concern and asks the public be educated about them. Garner, who said she has a 40-year background in mental and behavioral health, emphasized body image as a major risk factor, particularly for young women. "The one thing that is the most important, the most impactful for, especially young women is body image," Garner said.
Garner said she and sponsors plan to present more information on Thursday with Arkansas Children's Hospital and the Psychiatric Research Institute; she also noted the ribbon color for eating-disorder awareness. "The ribbon for eating disorders is lilac, and so you will get a lilac ribbon in your boxes," Garner said.
Committee members did not record any questions or formal opposition during the meeting; the chair closed debate, a motion to adopt the amendment was approved, and members voted to "do pass" the resolution as amended.
The resolution does not include specific hospitalization numbers in the committee record; Garner said the text was updated to reflect the Department of Health's newest information but did not read the figures aloud during the committee presentation. The committee record indicates the resolution will be presented publicly on an upcoming date in coordination with Arkansas Children's and the Psychiatric Research Institute.
The vote was taken by voice; no roll-call tally was recorded in the committee transcript.
