The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) has partnered with Clear Channel Radio to launch a campaign featuring top Hollywood Celebrities

[Lindsay 774]

HOLLYWOOD, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 10/11/06 -- The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) has partnered with Clear Channel Radio to launch a high-profile PSA campaign featuring top Hollywood celebrities, some of whom have themselves battled an eating disorder, it was announced today at a press conference at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, Calif.

Recording Public Service Announcements (PSAs) on behalf of NEDA were entertainer and humanitarian Paula Abdul ("American Idol"); actress and singer Scarlett Pomers ("Reba"); award-winning, multi-platinum country music star Sara Evans ("Dancing With the Stars"), who nearly lost her best friend to an eating disorder; chart-topping, multi-platinum songstress Wynonna Judd; and Emme, model, TV host, author, lecturer and plus-sized clothing designer, who has long promoted healthy body image.

The national PSA campaign, which will begin rolling out today (Oct. 11), is intended to raise public awareness about eating disorders and how to get help if a listener believes that they, or a friend, may have a problem. Seventeen individual spots will play in rotation into mid 2007 and additional spots may be recorded later.

Clear Channel Radio is making the PSAs available to its radio stations for airing across the country. Clear Channel Radio serves local communities across the U.S. with more than 110 million listeners choosing Clear Channel Radio programming each week.

Commented Lynn Grefe, CEO of NEDA, "The National Eating Disorders Association applauds Clear Channel for its leadership in helping us to save lives and lead people toward help. This partnership with our celebrity ambassadors and Clear Channel will reach so many people to emphasize that eating disorders are illnesses, not choices. Eating disorders can be deadly and can devastate entire families -- both emotionally and financially. But, we are here together to say that there is hope and there is help. Thank you Clear Channel, Paula, Scarlett, Emme, Wynonna and Sara. Lending your voices to the cause makes a difference and we are grateful."

Joel Delmonico, vice president and market manager for Clear Channel Radio in Syracuse, which produced the radio spots, added, "Clear Channel Radio is deeply committed to our listeners in communities across the country. We are part of the daily lives of millions of people and reaching out with important messages like this is what we do every day. We believe that this campaign can have a real and measurable impact on the lives of those suffering from these disorders."

"I'm so excited to be working with NEDA on this very important issue," said NEDA ambassador, actress and singer Scarlett Pomers ("Reba"). "The number of sufferers only increases every year and I hope we can step up awareness and relieve the shame and guilt that families feel, so they may get help before their loved ones suffer permanent damage or even death."

Added NEDA ambassador Emme, model, TV host, author, lecturer and plus-sized clothing designer, who has long promoted healthy body image, "Awareness comes only when we are ready to see the whole picture. Here's to bashing false stereotypes and embracing our whole selves!"

Award-winning, multi-platinum country music star and NEDA ambassador Sara Evans, who was unable to attend the press conference due to rehearsals for "Dancing With the Stars," commented, "I hope our message will help others take the first step to reach out to a friend suffering from an eating disorder."

DID YOU KNOW?

-- As many as 10 million females and 1 million males in the U.S. are

battling eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Millions more

suffer from binge eating disorder.

-- The peak onset of eating disorders occurs during puberty and the late

teen/early adult years, but symptoms can occur as young as kindergarten.

-- More than one in three "normal dieters" progresses to pathological

dieting.

-- Eating disorders affect people from all walks of life, including young

children, middle-aged women, men and individuals of all races and

ethnicities.

-- Long-term physical health implications of eating disorders include

heart failure, kidney damage, esophagus, colon and intestinal problems,

osteoporosis, tooth decay and hair loss.

-- Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.

-- Although eating disorders are potentially lethal, they are treatable.

SOURCE:-

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), headquartered in Seattle, Wash., is the largest not-for-profit organization in the country dedicated to supporting research for the prevention, treatment and cure of eating disorders; supporting state legislative and advocacy efforts for access to treatment; expanding public education and awareness of eating disorders; promoting access and providing referrals to quality treatment for those affected; providing support for their loved ones. Since the inception of its Helpline in 1999, NEDA has referred more than 50,000 people to treatment and tallies more than 40 million hits annually on its Web site.