The Body Balance Coalition (BBC) advocates for healthful eating, positive body image and lifestyle balance. This is accomplished by increasing community awareness through education and providing educational opportunities for treatment professionals that will enhance their knowledge regarding identification, treatment and prevention of eating disorders.The BBC was started in the memory of Christy Heinrich, a local gymnast who died of complications secondary to Anorexia and Bulimia.Originally known as the Christy Henrich Foundation, the Body Balance Coalition was established in September 1994 as a non-profit organization when Christy Henrich, the daughter of Paul and Sandy Henrich of Independence, Missouri, passed away in a Kansas City hospital at age 22 as a result of multiple organ failure brought on by anorexia and bulimia. Christy was a world-class gymnast and the first gymnast ever from the state of Missouri to compete at the Olympic Trials. Family and friends of Christy founded the Christy Henrich Foundation in an effort to help others learn from Christy’s tragedy.