Spectrum of Eating Disorders - from Anorexia to Obesity - are Cause for Rising Concern among K-12 Students and...( National Eating Disorders Assn. (NED...),Health

National Eating Disorders Assn. (NEDA) Educators Seminar Thursday, October 4 in San Diego Informs Teachers, Administrators on how to Identify and Help

Children at Risk

NEW YORK, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Educators are in a unique position to save lives when they know how to identify and help children at risk for eating disorders.

For this reason, the National Eating Disorders Association will host an Educators Seminar on Thursday, October 4, 12:00-5:00 p.m., in San Diego at the Doubletree Hotel Mission Valley. The special seminar for educators opens the organization's annual national conference, which attracts nearly 500 families and renowned eating disorder treatment professionals from across the country.

Open to all K-12 school educators, nurses, counselors and administrators, the half-day seminar will include Eating Disorders 101 -- what they are, who is at risk and common causes, and how to screen for and recognize eating disorders in a school setting; how to work with students and families to access quality treatment; empowering families to overcome barriers to care, and will offer suggested policies and best practices for schools. Led by eating disorder experts from across the country, the program will cover the spectrum of eating disorders, from anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder to obesity.

The peak onset of eating disorders occurs during puberty, but symptoms do occur in children as young as those in kindergarten. They affect people from all walks of life, including young children and teenagers of all races and ethnicities. Although eating disorders are potentially lethal, they are preventable and treatable.

"Educators are on the frontline in witnessing eating disorders," said Lynn Grefe, NEDA CEO. "With as much daily interaction as they have with kids, they are often the ones who first see the signs. It takes a team to recognize and treat an eating disorder, and teachers
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