CAMARINES Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. is pushing for a measure to provide eating disorders awareness, prevention, and education among elementary, secondary, and college students, their parents, and guardians.

Under his House Bill 8739 or the proposed Eating Disorders Awareness, Prevention, and Education Act, Villafuerte seeks to provide schools and parents with the means and flexibility to detect and prevent eating disorders among students.

“Eating disorders usually begin in adolescence and are associated with substantial psychological problems, including depression, substance abuse, and suicide,” Villafuerte said in his explanatory note.

The solon explained that there is a noticeable rise in the incidence of eating disorders in Asian countries like the Philippines, North Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, India, and Pakistan.

“Eating disorders can lead to death,” the solon warned.

He cited studies from the US National Institute of Mental Health saying that one in 10 people with anorexia nervosa will die of starvation, cardiac arrest, or other medical complications.

The measure mandates the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Department of Health to provide innovative assistance for the identification of, training on, and educational awareness of eating disorders.