July 10, 2000

Dear Medical/Health Reporter:

Have you fought the "battle of the bulge?" One of the biggest challenges we face in our society is controlling our weight. This may be a simple act of discipline for some, but for others the diet roller coaster never ends.

Weight charts don’t reflect self-image and for diehard dieters that’s what dieting is all about. Low self-esteem, feelings of helplessness, and depression can lead to eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating behavior.

Research indicates that eating disorders are one of the psychological problems least likely to be treated. Once detected, these disorders don't go away on their own. Left untreated they can devastate the body with a full range of maladies from anemia, to palpitations, to high blood pressure, to diabetes. But the good news is—when eating disorders are identified, psychologists can recommend treatments to successfully overcome them.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, even though adolescent girls and young women account for 90% of the eating disorders in this country, older women, men and boys can also develop them.

As a service to your community, the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Psychologists in Independent Practice would like to offer a psychologist in your area to speak with you on this subject. He/She would be able to discuss how to determine whether or not someone has an eating disorder and how to get help.

Your readers can call toll-free 1-877-603-4000 for a free brochure called "Straight Talk - Choosing a Psychologist." Readers can also use this number for the name of a licensed psychologist in their area.

APA’s Psychologists in Independent Practice represents independent psychologists, each of whom is a doctoral level professional licensed by his or her particular state. When you need to talk to someone who can help, you need an experienced, licensed psychologist.

I look forward to speaking with you.

Sincerely,