Press Kit

May 22, 2016 / Comments Off on Press Kit

The Stars of To the Bone Make PSA to Support World Eating Disorders Action Day, June 2

Stars of Upcoming Feature Film, Based on One Survivor’s True Story,  Join Over 200 Organizations Around the Globe to Unite for the Cause

Inaugural Grassroots Campaign will Shine a Spotlight on the 70 Million People Affected by Eating Disorders Worldwide

WORLDWIDE — May 31, 2016 — For Immediate Release — Organizations and activists representing 30 countries are uniting for the inaugural World Eating Disorders Action Day on June 2, to increase awareness, eradicate myths and collectively advocate for resources and policy change.

In support of World Eating Disorders Action Day, writer/director Marti Noxon (Glee, Mad Men, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and the stars of her upcoming feature film, To the Bone – based on Noxon’s struggle with anorexia as a girl and her unconventional road to recovery – created a PSA to draw attention to these life-threatening, yet treatable illnesses.

In the PSA, Noxon and the film’s stars and crew members reveal the Nine Truths About Eating Disorders [listed on page 2] in an effort to debunk common myths about these complex conditions. Supporting the effort are Keanu Reeves (John Wick, The Matrix, The Devil’s Advocate, Speed), Lily Collins (Love, Rosie; Mirror Mirror; The Blind Side), Carrie Preston (Showtime’s Happyish, The Good Wife, HBO’s True Blood), Kathryn Prescott (Finding Carter, Skins), Retta (NBC’s Parks and Recreation, Fracture, Slackers) and Ciara Bravo (Nickelodeon’s Jinxed and Big Time Rush), among others.

The goals of the campaign are to advance the understanding of eating disorders as treatable, genetically-linked illnesses; embrace diversity; raise awareness among policy makers to allocate resources and establish coherent national systems; and to advocate for change at an international level.

To view and download the PSA:
https://vimeo.com/167217782 – Password: WEDD2016

To share online: https://youtu.be/YrgrIts5WV8

Said Amy Cunningham, chair of the World Eating Disorders Action Day steering committee, “The first-ever World Eating Disorders Action Day sends a powerful message to policymakers across the globe on the need for action, underscores the fact that eating disorders don’t discriminate and provides a message of hope for successful intervention.”

The Nine Truths About Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are potentially life-threatening illnesses with the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder and affect approximately 70 million people globally of all ages, sizes, weights, abilities, races/ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, genders, documentation and socioeconomic statuses.

Because stigma and misinformation too often prevent individuals from seeking help, leading eating disorder professionals and organizations came together to create the Nine Truths About Eating Disorders:*

  1. Many people with eating disorders look healthy, yet may be extremely ill.
  2. Families are not to blame and can be the patients’ and providers’ best allies in treatment.
  3. An eating disorder diagnosis is a health crisis that disrupts personal and family functioning.
  4. Eating disorders are not choices, but serious biologically influenced illnesses.
  5. Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, races, ethnicities, body shapes and weights, sexual orientations and socio-economic statuses.
  6. Eating disorders carry an increased risk for both suicide and medical complications.
  7. Genes and environment play important roles in the development of eating disorders.
  8. Genes alone do not predict who will develop eating disorders.
  9. Full recovery from an eating disorder is possible. Early detection and intervention are important.

World Eating Disorders Action Day unites eating disorder activists, professionals, parents and those personally affected to promote worldwide knowledge of eating disorders and the need for comprehensive treatment. A steering committee comprised of many of the leading voices in the field of eating disorders treatment will provide guidance and represent over 200 organizations in 30 countries across the globe. Providing counsel are the Academy for Eating Disorders, author June Alexander, Beating Eating Disorders, BingeBehavior.com, Elephant in the Room Foundation, Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders/F.E.A.S.T, International Eating Disorders Action, Nalgona Positivity Pride, National Association of Males with Eating Disorders, National Eating Disorders Association, Not All Black Girls Know How to Eat and Trans Folx Fighting Eating Disorders.

For More Information:

Visit: www.WorldEatingDisordersDay.org

To share the PSA: https://youtu.be/YrgrIts5WV8

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/WorldEatingDisordersDay

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/WorldEDDay

Join the conversation: #WeDoAct #WorldEatingDisordersDay

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Press Contacts:

World Eating Disorders Action Day
WorldEatingDisorderDay@gmail.com

*Nine Truths About Eating Disorders Reference:
Produced in collaboration with Dr. Cynthia Bulik, Ph.D., F.A.E.D., who serves as distinguished professor of eating disorders in the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, “Nine Truths” is based on Dr. Bulik’s 2014 “9 Eating Disorders Myths Busted” talk at the National Institute of Mental Health. Leading associations in the field of eating disorders also contributed their valuable input.

Materials:

[youtube https://youtu.be/YrgrIts5WV8]