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The History of EDAP (Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention): Then, Now, and in the Future
EDAP Then
Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention, Inc. (EDAP) officially began in 1987 in response to the enormous number of individuals suffering from eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive overeating. A task force of mental health professionals from all over the United States convened in Baltimore to create a national organization dedicated to the primary and secondary prevention of eating disorders. Enthusiastically, these professionals developed a mission statement, goals, and objectives, set up national committees, divided the country into geographic regions, and committed themselves to implementing the first Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) which took place in April 1988.
EDAP Now
Today, EDAP is a healthy, nonprofit organization with an active, national board of directors and a distinguished advisory council. The board communicates monthly via phone and meets face-to-face twice a year. Our network of volunteer state and community coordinators and their steering committees are kept informed, inspired, and active throughout the year by means of a quarterly newsletter and contact with our executive director and full-time staff from our newly established national headquarters in Seattle, Washington. EDAW continues to be EDAP's most enduring and visible program. States sponsor a variety of activities and events during EDAW and throughout the entire year, such as workshops, hotlines, conferences, public forums, film nights on college campuses, radio shows, hospital outreach, and Fearless Friday, a day for everyone to consciously refuse to diet! A new campaign focus is conceived for EDAW annually. Each state or local coordinator receives materials to guide their public awareness campaigns and to bring about a unified presentation approach throughout the country. Included are brochures for distribution and reproduction, posters, buttons, T-shirts, many different types of handouts, articles, resource lists, press release prototypes, letters to schools, parents, and community leaders, and guidelines for giving presentations to target populations. In order to be ever-more true to the concepts of primary prevention, preventing eating disorders before they begin and promoting healthy development, EDAW's targeted audiences have grown over the years from college-aged to high school and junior high school students, and, more recently, expanded to include the families of newborns and toddlers. Early education is crucial for the successful prevention of eating disorders. For EDAW 1993, presentations and handouts were developed for expectant parents, OB/GYN nurses, Mommy, Daddy & Me classes, K-3 PTA meetings, and child care centers. This effort was furthered in 1994, 1995, and 1996 by including special educational materials for fathers and men in the prevention of eating disorders.
EDAP in the Future
We continue to further challenge ourselves. EDAW '97 (February 3-9) will build on 1996's theme with more new materials such as posters, buttons, and T-shirts with our slogan Don't Weigh Your Self Esteem . . . It's what's lnside That Counts, a newly redesigned EDAP brochure, a Prevention Guide, and educational and presentation materials. Presentations this year will place special emphasis on reaching highrisk groups such as athletes, girls age 11-14, and the people who influence them‹coaches, trainers, school personnel, and the sports, entertainment, and advertising industries. In 1997, we will strive to realize our goal of expanding our network of EDAW coordinators to at least one in every state and to continue the yearlong planning that goes into a successful education and prevention campaign.
Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention, Inc.
603 Stewart Street, Suite 803
Seattle, WA 98101
Telephone (206) 382-3587
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