Nation's Leading Treatment Center for Eating Disorders States Early
Identification Can Save Companies Money and Save Lives
PHOENIX, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Not only are eating disorders dangerous
to one's physical and mental health, but they cost U.S. companies millions of
dollars. The overall medical and mental health costs to U.S. businesses in
2001 for all eating disorders combined including anorexia, bulimia, binge-
eating disorder (BED) and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS),
totals more than $3.8 billion.
"Statistics show forty percent of women with eating disorders function
poorly at work and one-third are frequently absent from work," said Edward
Cumella, PhD, director of research and education at Remuda Ranch, Programs for
Anorexia and Bulimia. "BED-related obesity in women costs businesses
approximately $2.5 billion annually in lost productivity, lost work,
restricted and bed days. Early identification and treatment can help reduce
these problems in the workplace."
Identifying and approaching employees with eating disorders in the
workplace can be difficult. Remuda Ranch offers the following tips when
talking to an employee about an eating disorder:
-- Plan your approach first: Think about what you will say and decide on a
good time to approach the person - when they are calm and not
distracted. Talk in private.
-- Get the facts: If you suspect, but are not sure that someone has a
problem, bring up the topic in an open-ended manner as a possibility
that emerges from your concern. Keep asking questions until you are
satisfied that you understand what is happening.
-- Show concern: Be compassionate and nonjudgmental at all times. Listen
carefully to the person. Acknowledge their fears. Say, "I understand
your feelings. A therapist can help you overcome those fears."
-- State the problem for the company: Be clear that the problems are
affecting the individual's work, and state how. Do so in a non-blaming
manner.
-- State your goal: Your goal is for the person to get professional help
so that they can recover from their eating disorder and improve work
performance. Don't accept the employee's claim that they can overcome
the problem on their own. Eating disorders require treatment.
-- Offer solutions: Have viable treatment options and referrals on hand to
offer the person. Since specialized knowledge and skills are needed to
effectively treat eating disorders, rely only on treatment providers
who specialize in eating disorders and who use evidence-based and
multi-disciplinary team approaches to treatment.
-- Be persistent: The person may reject your efforts at first. Return at
a later time and try again. If they attempt treatment and don't
succeed, continue to encourage them because a different therapist or
treatment method will eventually work.
"The most important message you can give to your employee is that there is
help and hope," adds Cumella.
About Remuda Ranch Programs for Anorexia and Bulimia
Remuda Ranch is a caring place for women and girls who are suffering from
ever-increasing levels of anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorder related
issues. Remuda Treatment Centers offer professional, Biblically based programs
exclusively dedicated to the professional treatment of females suffering from
eating disorders. Each resident is treated by a team of six professionals
including a psychiatric and primary care provider, registered dietitian,
Masters-trained therapist, psychologist and registered nurse. The professional
staff equips each resident with the right tools to live a healthy, productive
life. For more information, call 1-800-445-1900.
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