In Recognition of

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week -- February 26 – March 3, 2012

Greendale High School presents:

ED 101

A 30 minute film on what parents and teens need to know about eating disorders

Wauwatosa, WI --  ED 101 is a short but powerful documentary film developed by NORMAL, a national non-profit organization that uses arts and mindfulness programs to educate about eating disorders, body image and self-esteem issues.

“NORMAL:  A Family Musical of Hope and Survival” is the hip, rock musical about a teen’s struggle with an eating disorder that Greendale High School’s Advanced Theatre class performed in 2006 - 2007.  Its story resonated with many teens and families dealing with eating disorders and other mental health issues and was responsible for well over 100 people seeking treatment.  The unexpected and overwhelming success of the musical led to the development of NORMAL, a nonprofit that since 2006 has become a major player within the eating disorders profession nationwide.

Eating disorders are still misunderstood and are often seen as a “choice,” something done for attention and simply a matter of will.   This film provides an overview of what eating disorders are and are not by featuring interviews with recognized experts in the field, the leaders of national ED organizations, those in recovery and family members who have supported a loved one through recovery.  ED 101 also includes interviews with the writer of the award-winning NORMAL, along with songs from the musical performed by Broadway and American Idol stars.

“The prevalence of body image dissatisfaction among our youth is alarming and, when kids don’t like their bodies, they often diet.  Dieting is not normal or healthy for a developing body, yet it is widely accepted and promoted in our society.  The scary thing is, dieting is the primary gateway to an eating disorder” says Dr. Laura Lees, a clinical psychologist and Certified Eating Disorders Specialist in Wauwatosa who has been treating eating disorders for over 20 years.

Dr. Lees will facilitate a question and answer session following the film and will be joined by Joan Riederer, the mother of one of the women featured in the film who died from an eating disorder in 2010 and Alexandra Klug- Dethloff, a 19 year old who is successfully navigating her recovery from a severe case of anorexia nervosa.

Startling, little known facts revealed in the film include:

1. 25 million Americans struggle with an eating disorder
2. 7 million of those struggling are male
3. Suicide is a leading cause of death among those with eating disorders

According to Dr. Lees, “Those are the types of statistics that every parent, educator and student should be aware of.  There is still such a need for education and awareness about this problem because it can affect anyone who diets, yet how often do we discourage dieting, especially among kids?”  Other important points Lees, Riederer and Klug-Dethloff will discuss and want people to know:

1. Eating disorders are serious, complex and genetically-based psychological disorders
2. People do die from eating disorders -- they have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder, including depression
3. Early intervention with a qualified expert provides the best chance for a full recovery

ED 101 will be presented on February 29^th at 6:30 p.m. in the Greendale High School library located at 6801 Southway; Greendale, WI.  Greendale HS will be inviting other schools in surrounding communities to attend this event which is free and open to the public.  Donations to the NORMAL non-profit would be greatly appreciated.

Laura A. Lees, Psy.D., CEDS, is the founding Vice President of NORMAL and owns Lees Psychological Services