Overview of State Legislation and Laws Related to Eating Disorders From 2008 to 2024.

OBJECTIVE

Eating disorders affect 9% of the U.S. population and impose substantial health and economic burdens. This study aimed to examine trends in and focus areas of state legislative activity (2008-2024) with respect to eating disorders.

METHODS

State-level bills and enacted laws were identified by using the Westlaw legislative database and were categorized by type: authorization bills, appropriations bills, resolutions, and enacted laws. A hybrid inductive-deductive coding approach was used to classify policies by issue topic, including awareness, screening and referral, treatment services, and insurance coverage. Frequencies and distributions of legislative activity were summarized quantitatively.

RESULTS

A total of 600 unique policies on eating disorders were identified. Awareness-raising initiatives were most common (N=218 policies), followed by screening and referral (N=134), treatment service delivery (N=95), and insurance coverage (N=82). Although legislative activity increased over time, most policies focused on awareness rather than comprehensive prevention, treatment, or recovery programs.

CONCLUSIONS

State legislative attention to eating disorders is growing, yet policies often remain symbolic. Expansion of legislation to support prevention, early intervention, and treatment services is critical for addressing the detrimental impact of eating disorders on public health.