You Made History: Legislation to Protect Our Kids

Published March 11, 2024 | Last Updated October 21, 2026

A gavel

Minnesota kids experience eating disorders as often as they experience concussions – and now Minnesota is the first state in the nation that has a law that addresses eating disorder prevention thanks in part to WithAll.

There are robust state laws for concussion prevention, cancer prevention, “obesity” prevention, second-hand smoke prevention, and more.  Yet, there was 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 led an effort to pass Minnesota’s first state law to protect our kids from developing eating disorders in the first place. And with you, it happened.

Mom in superhero costume holding child

When the Minnesota Legislature convened in the Spring of 2024, 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 is the first law in Minnesota history that elevates eating disorders as a top health issue for young people.

And 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.

Every child deserves to feel good in their body. Donate today to help prevent eating disorders and support those in recovery. Your gift fuels our What to Say Initiative and Recovery Support Program.

Lisa Radzak
By Lisa Radzak
Lisa served as WithAll's Executive Director, leading its strategic growth as a sustainable social enterprise dedicated to the prevention of and healing from eating disorders. She 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.

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