Help Us Make History: Support Legislation to Protect Our Kids

Published March 11, 2024

A gavel

Minnesota kids experience eating disorders as often as they experience concussions – and yet there is no Minnesota law that addresses eating disorder prevention.

There are robust state laws for concussion prevention, cancer prevention, “obesity” prevention, second-hand smoke prevention, and more.  Yet, there is no law aimed at eating disorder prevention.  And eating disorders are the most chronic and deadliest of any of these conditions.

That is why WithAll is leading an effort to pass Minnesota’s first state law to protect our kids from developing eating disorders in the first place. And we are asking for your help and support to make this happen.

Mom in superhero costume holding child

When the Minnesota Legislature convened this session, it considered WithAll-led legislation to require the Minnesota State High School League to provide school coaches with eating disorder prevention information and risk-mitigation strategies. The objective is to support coaches to be aware of eating disorders as a significant health issue and equip them with basic information on how they can support their young athletes’ positive food relationships and healthy body images.

This will be the first law in Minnesota history that elevates eating disorders as a top health issue for young people.

WithAll, thanks to your support, is on the frontlines to move this important piece of legislation forward. But we need your help.

Contact your State Representative in four simple steps! 

  1. Click here, to find your Minnesota Representative https://www.gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/
  2. Your State Representative is the top person listed with “Rep.” in front of their name.
  3. Click on the CONTACT button to the right of your State Rep,
  4. On their webpage, you will see a hyperlink to their email address.
  5. Click on that and send them a version of the following (editing to make it your own words is helpful):

Rep [NAME]
As your constituent, I know how important HF3660 is for young people’s mental health.
[SHARE what you wish about your own experience –but you don’t need to include anything.]
Please pass this bill and make it state law as quickly as possible.
Thank you,
Sign

Finally, if you are willing, send WithAll a copy of your note, and share the name of your Representative, as we’d love to collect these.

Donate $2.40 to help

We need your financial support so we can invest the time it takes for WithAll to lead this effort! WithAll is funded entirely by private donations.

Please consider today a gift of $2.40, $24, $240, or $2,400 – in honor of the 2024 effort to pass Minnesota’s first eating disorder prevention legislation.

Be a part of Minnesota history – by putting in place a state law to protect young people’s mental and physical health by raising awareness about eating disorders and practical prevention measures.

Donate Now

May 2024 Update: We did it!

This is now a Minnesota law:

Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 128C.02, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

Subd. 3c.  Eating disorder awareness.  The [Minnesota State High School League] must provide school coaches with eating disorder prevention education resources developed specifically for school coaches about the nature and risks of eating disorders, including the risk factors, mitigation strategies, effects, and risks of undiagnosed and untreated eating disorders, consistent with current medical research.

This is the first ever MN law aimed at eating disorder prevention and awareness, and it is the first of it’s kind in the United States.

Lisa Radzak
By Lisa Radzak
As Executive Director, Lisa leads WithAll’s strategic growth as a sustainable social enterprise dedicated to the prevention of and healing from eating disorders. Lisa has more than 20 years of experience in public affairs, community relations, and law, and nearly 15 years of experience in non-profit leadership, most recently at Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media. She is a graduate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law, a member of the Minnesota Bar, and a Minnesota Supreme Court appointee to Minnesota’s Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board. She volunteers with her daughter’s school and with youth sports. Lisa does this work because she knows eating disorders are not a choice; they are deadly, and they are everywhere. She also knows kids are not born with harmful thoughts and actions around food or their body—and it’s our job as adults to keep it this way so they can focus their precious brains and time on things that matter. Lisa finds laughter, all children, and the numerous variations of sparkling water to be delightful.

Related Articles

For Parents
parents

Supporting our children in developing a healthy relationship with food & body

Feb 11, 2021
We all want our children to lead happy, healthy lives. But in today's world it can be increasingly difficult to know how to best support kids' physical and mental health. As a parent you have a powerful opportunity to shape the way your children think about and feel in their bodies, and in turn, you…
Read More
For Parents
parents

Diet Talk: What is it and how can I avoid doing it around the kids I care about?

Feb 11, 2021
Diet talk is everywhere. It comes up with family members & during gatherings with friends. You see it on your social media feeds, your favorite TV shows, and in the magazines you read. In fact, diet talk is so ingrained in our day-to-day lives, it can be hard to understand what we even mean when…
Read More
For Parents
parents

Harmful Weight Talk: What is it & why is it so bad for kids’ health?

Feb 11, 2021
In today’s society, talking about weight is often a sensitive subject, particularly around children and teens. As adults who care a lot about the kids in our lives, it can be hard to know how to approach conversations about weight with young people. Read on to learn more about harmful weight talk and the impact…
Read More