FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, April 7, 2010 Contact: Bob Weiner/Rebecca Vander Linde 301-283-0821/202-306-1200 [email protected]

MISS AMERICA ’08 TO OPENLY ADDRESS EATING DISORDERS AT NEWS CONF 11am APRIL 9 IN COSTA MESA, CA; JOINED BY FORMER U.S. DRUG CZAR & 4-STAR GENERAL, CA STATE WOMEN’S HEALTH OFFICE CHIEF, AND CEO OF COUNTRY’S LARGEST BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS TREATMENT PROVIDER

11AM FRI., APRIL 9, NEWS CONFERENCE AT THE TURNIP ROSE, 1901 NEWPORT BLVD, COSTA MESA, CA 92627

CONFERENCE BRINGING “AWARENESS AND ACTION” TO “SILENT DANGER” EATING DISORDERS CRISIS AFFECTING MILLIONS

(Costa Mesa, CA) – Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund, and her mother, Iora Haglund; former White House Drug Czar, Four-Star General Barry McCaffrey; the Chief of the California Women’s Health Office, Terri Thorfinnson, appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger; and the CEO of the country’s largest behavioral treatment provider, CRC Health Group, Dr. Barry Karlin, will address a news conference at 11AM Friday, April 9 highlighting a daylong conference in Costa Mesa to bring “awareness and action” to confront “Eating Disorders—America’s Silent Danger.”

The conference and 11AM news event are at The Turnip Rose, 1901 Newport Boulevard, Costa Mesa, CA 92627. The conference will bring experts together from throughout the Western U.S.

Miss America ‘08/Kirsten Haglund will speak openly about her own battle with eating disorders. Her mother, Iora Haglund, RN, BSN, MSA, will share her firsthand experience of family intervention and will discuss the importance of close involvement and seeking expert treatment. General McCaffrey will address the dimensions of the national crisis and the importance of action. California Women’s Health Office Chief Terri Thorfinnson will discuss the work the state is doing in prevention and empowering women to learn about their own health. Dr. Karlin will address the crisis uncovered, the future of the eating disorder industry, and how treatment providers can make an impact.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, ten million females and one million males are right now fighting a major health battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia.

The title of the conference is “Awareness and Action on Eating Disorders —Confronting America’s Silent Danger.” The event is being hosted by The Victorian Newport Beach Residential Programs for Eating Disorder Treatment and cosponsored by Montecatini Eating Disorder Treatment Center of San Diego and Sierra Tucson Treatment Center of Tucson, AZ.

(Source: Robert Weiner Associates and CRC Health Group)