NEDA Names Music Duo Alexa and Natalee Falk as Official Ambassadors

Online, January 25, 2012 (Newswire.com) - NEW YORK CITY - The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) welcomes Alexa and Natalee Falk - a.k.a. Falk (www.falk-music.com), a dynamic music duo from Logan, Utah - as official ambassadors for the organization.

The sisters, who grew up in the music industry, have found their genuine voice and are garnering national attention for their song "Deadly Beauty," which is dedicated to young women struggling with eating disorders and the family members who worry about them.
Junior high and high school years were difficult for the Falk sisters, who were homeschooled and often rejected by other students and even adults. It was especially hard for Alexa, who struggled with bulimia, low self-image and low self-esteem in her teens.

"I really turned on myself and became self-destructive," says Alexa, who worked with counselors for treatment, but says it was only when she went to college that she realized how serious her condition was and was able to change. "I was lucky enough to turn it around. When I was 16, I wrote 'Deadly Beauty' as a way to help other girls going through the same experiences."

"Watching my sister struggle with an eating disorder when we were younger greatly influenced my perception of what I thought life was supposed to be," adds Natalee. "I sort of lost my own identity and over the years I've had to re-establish myself."

Alexa entered the "Deadly Beauty" in the 2007 CosmoGirl songwriting contest and won most favored song by the readers. The Falk sisters have performed the song across the country and were invited to present it and their message at NEDA's third annual NYC NEDA Walk in October 2011.

Read the "Deadly Beauty" lyrics at http://www.falk-music.com/lyrics/deadly-beauty.html.

"They really strike a chord with kids that suffer from eating disorders," said Lynn Grefe, president and CEO of NEDA. "Eating disorders have the highest death rate of any mental illness. This song really gets to the heart of the matter."

The song resonated with walk attendees who felt it perfectly expressed the pain they felt watching their daughters also struggle with eating disorders. "It was the most humbling reaction I'd ever received after a performance," Alexa says. "I had victims and family members come up and tell me how much the song affected them. I had dads come to me crying, saying how much the music touched them. I learned from that experience that music is something that can heal."

As NEDA ambassadors, the girls will travel to Minneapolis, Minn., in February; Orlando, Fla., in March; and New York City in April to perform "Deadly Beauty" and connect with people across the country. They have also been asked to speak about their experiences with eating disorders, both as a survivor and as a family member, during NEDA's annual benefit dinner in New York.

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is Feb. 26-March 3

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is launching its 25th annual National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAwareness Week), Feb. 26-March 3, in an ongoing mission to bring public attention to the critical need to raise awareness and funding to battle eating disorders in the U.S.

During NEDAwareness Week, thousands of people come together in communities across the country, hosting events to raise awareness about body image and bring national attention to the severity of eating disorders, which are mental illnesses (not lifestyle choices) with devastating, often life-threatening, consequences. While there is hope and recovery is possible - particularly with early intervention - many people suffer from the long-term effects of these illnesses.

Themed Everybody Knows Somebody in 2012, some of the many events planned for the week include presen-tations and health fairs in schools and on college campuses; screenings of informational films; fashion shows featuring men and women of all body types; art shows; The Great Jeans Giveaway; and NEDA Walk fundraisers.
To help promote NEDAwareness week this year, NYC's Empire State Building will be lit in NEDA's signature green and blue logo colors the night of Tuesday, Feb. 28 to put a spotlight on the fight against eating disorders.

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), headquartered in New York City, is the leading U.S. non-profit organization supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. NEDA serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care. Each year, NEDA helps millions of people across the country find information and appropriate treatment resources through its toll-free, live helpline, its many outreach programs and website. NEDA advocates for advancements in the field and envisions a world without eating disorders. For more information, visit www.NationalEatingDisorders.org

For Treatment Referrals, Visit www.NationalEatingDisorders.org
Or Contact NEDA's Live Helpline: 800-931-2237
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (EST)

Contacts:
NEDA - 323-660-5800
Vicki Greenleaf - [email protected]
Karen Brundage - [email protected]

PR Contact for Falk - 801-915-6920
Peri Kinder - [email protected]

Available for Interviews:
• The Falk Sisters
• Lynn Grefe, President and CEO of NEDA.
• Doctors, psychologists & other eating disorder treatment specialists throughout the country.
• Recovered eating disorder patients.