Contact:
Danie Greenwell
215-885-2420
info@achancetoheal.org
Philadelphia, PA - A Chance to Heal Foundation will hold a special event with Aimee Liu, acclaimed author of GAINING: The Truth About Life After Eating Disorders and Solitaire. The event, free of charge, will take place in Mt. Airy on April 23 (7-9pm) in the home of an A Chance to Heal supporter. This program is part of the organization's ongoing mission to educate the public on the causes of eating disorders.
Liu will discuss her own history of anorexia and recovery, emphasizing the scientific insights she gained while researching her book. She will explain why all people are not equally vulnerable to anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder; how to spot those who may be vulnerable; why major life stresses often triggers eating disorders; how these conditions tend to affect both social choices and academic performance; and what we all can do to combat this ongoing epidemic.
In her new book, Liu interviews both men and women of diverse ethnicities and reveals several common threads. She writes that long after their symptoms of disordered eating subsided, many still struggled with anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive behavior. Liu also discusses her curiosity to know if her interviewees' personalities were measurably different from people who had never had an eating disorder. Liu will explain how and why she consulted with leading scientists now studying the biochemistry of anorexia and bulimia. The researchers confirmed that the risk for these disorders is about 60% genetic, and that risk is reflected in certain key traits, such as persistence, introversion, and perfectionism.
A Chance to Heal engages authors, medical and health professionals, people who have lived with eating disorders and people who support them in order to help others who may be dealing with the same issues. They are committed to helping because hundreds of people die each year of eating disorders. Statistics show that at least 9 million Americans struggle with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. Unfortunately, more than half of all cases are undetected and therefore, untreated. A Chance to Heal helps to educate and engage the public to create a dialogue that stresses that eating disorders are both preventable and treatable.
To register to attend this author briefing and group discussion, contact info@achancetoheal.org or call 215 885-2420.
About A Chance to Heal: Serving the greater Philadelphia region, the mission of A Chance to Heal is to prevent eating disorders through education and early diagnosis. Ongoing programming includes cutting edge workshops for middle and high school students - girls and boys -- on media literacy and body image, ParentTalk workshops, and training for healthcare providers on the proper diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders.
About the Author: Aimee Liu is author of GAINING, a sequel to her acclaimed 1979 memoir Solitaire. Her novels include Flash House (Warner Books, 2003), Cloud Mountain (Warner Books, 1997), and Face (Warner Books, 1994). She also has co-authored several nonfiction books and has written numerous articles on medical, psychological, and political topics. She earned her MFA from Bennington College and now teaches in Goddard College's MFA Writing Program. Liu is a past president of PEN USA, and in 2006 she was named to the Advisory Board of the international Academy for Eating Disorders. More information is available about Aimee's life and work at her website, www.aimeeliu.net.
About Gaining: The Truth About Life After Eating Disorders: Amazon.com
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