LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Eating disorder treatment experts call the illness a "silent epidemic." Now, they're pushing for a new law in Kentucky. Senate Bill 82 would create the Kentucky Eating Disorders Council, which would consist of experts to work on better, more accessible treatment for those who suffer in the Bluegrass. 

Dr. Cherie Levinson says 20 out of 100 people have an eating disorder. This can mean either anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or others like Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED).

"I think there's this perception that it's all about the food, but it's mostly about emotions and anxiety and how people feel about themselves as a person," says Levinson. 

Levinson founded the Louisville Center for Eating Disorders and is an assistant professor at the University of Louisville. She was inspired to study and work in the field she does, after seeing friends struggle with eating disorders. 

"It just feels really helpless to not know how to help someone," she explains, "you can just feel stuck, and I remember really wanting to help but not knowing how."

Levinson has been supporting Senate Bill 82, and even testified before lawmakers on her belief that a council could be a good step towards helping more Kentuckians overcome their eating disorder. She says many patients currently must travel as far away as St. Louis for help. Missouri is the only state that has a council like the one the Kentucky legislation outlines.

Outside of Levinson, other mental health advocates have voiced their support for the bill that's inching closer to becoming law. 

"Eating disorders require a broad  team of professionals, because it is both a physical disorder and a mental health disorder and it's life-threatening disorder. People die, if we have eating disorders untreated. So we added a whole bunch of people to this team that needed to be there," said mental health advocate Sheila Shuster. 

The bill needs to pass a vote on the House floor and get the governor's signature in order to become law.