Colorado eating disorder patients say they’ve been subjected to nude weigh-ins, forced to eat non-vegan foods

March 18, 2024

By: Jennifer Brown

While Colorado is a national hub for eating disorder treatment, the state does not regulate centers’ treatment plans or clinical practices. The clinics are regulated only by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which performs safety inspections and investigates complaints. The legislation from state Sens. Lisa Cutter and Faith Winter, both Democrats, would put the clinics under the purview of the state Behavioral Health Administration, which oversees mental health hospitals.

Eating disorders are the second-deadliest mental health condition, after opioid abuse. From 2018 to 2022, health insurance claims for eating disorders rose 65% nationally, with the largest increase in those ages 14-18.

“Yet there are few laws and regulations in place to address this type of treatment and protections people would expect while receiving care here in Colorado,” Cutter said during a hearing on the legislation, which passed out of a Senate committee 6-3. “This bill would recognize that people with eating disorders have a mental health condition and should be in facilities regulated by agencies with expertise in mental health.”

Read the full article in The Colorado Sun