PALO ALTO, Calif-- Effective treatment for eating disorders can be a matter of life and death, according to Mary Sanders, Ph.D., director of psychology at Stanford University School of Medicine and a staff psychologist in the eating disorders program at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.

Sudden heart failure from anorexia nervosa - purposeful starvation to trim body weight well below normal - has taken the lives of the famous and non-famous alike. Death can also come from bulimia - binge eating followed by purging, usually by self-induced vomiting - because of heart failure or internal bleeding through tears in the esophagus.

Although the victims may escape death, both these eating disorders can cause serious health problems, such as severe osteoporosis or liver and kidney failure.

While media accounts in recent years have helped spotlight the seriousness of eating disorders, the incidence continues to rise and affects an estimated 8 million males and females, usually in adolescence.

Dr. Sanders will address the warning signs and related issues surrounding eating disorders at "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall," a public lecture on Wed., Jan. 31, from 7:30 to 9 p.m., in the auditorium at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, 725 Welch Road, Palo Alto. Parents and young people are encouraged to attend.

"The key is identifying the disorder as early as possible and then starting effective treatment promptly," says Dr. Sanders.

The effectiveness of one promising approach, which originated at Maudsley Hospital in London, is currently being evaluated in a clinical trial led by Stanford pediatric psychiatrist James Lock, M.D., with research funding from the National Institute of Mental Health.

Instead of extended hospitalizations for patients with eating disorders - a treatment that often fails following discharge - the Maudsley method enlists families in supporting children to recover.

Although only in the first year of the three-year study, Dr. Lock indicates the evidence is mounting that family involvement makes a significant difference in the patient's recovery.

"Our goal is to fine-tune eating disorders treatment through studies like the one being conducted by Dr. Lock," explains Dr. Sanders. "We're assessing results to help determine which method works best for different age groups."

Registration for the public lecture is recommended. To register or for more information, call (650) 723-1022 or (800) 756-9000.