By:
Heather Borch
Alexis Brightwell
Melanie Szalontai

Prevention

How can you prevent eating disorders?

Knowledge is the key in the prevention of eating disorders. It is important that individuals try to learn as much as possible about anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, general nutrition and overall well being. The more understanding an individual has about health, nutrition, and their body, the easier it will be to reject body image misconceptions. Reject the idea that being a specific body weight will make you happy, because in reality it will not. Someone with an eating disorder needs to be supported and asked considerately to talk to their healthcare professional (Healthy Place, 2000).

Primary prevention is the best solution. This includes programs that are put on to raise awareness on the topic by teachers, parents, coaches, and community groups. Parents are usually in the best position to help young people. The key is for parents to not be in denial and not to feel guilty, as this will not help the struggling individual. Alternatively, parents should try to seek help as soon as possible. Recovery tends to be longer, the longer the symptoms have been ignored (ANRED, 2005).

Secondary prevention is intended to identify and help individuals in the early stages of this disorder. These programs include information about warning signs, successful ways to talk to individuals struggling with disorders, and referrals to treatment centres (Healthy Place, 2000).

Ways parents can prevent eating disorders

  • Model healthy messages and behaviours (e.g. Do not criticize your body or others')
  • Encourage healthy amounts of fitness and exercise (30 minutes to 1 hour a day)
  • Give children and teenagers positive messages about who they are, not how they appear
  • Do not diet, because diets do not work, and they send children the wrong message
  • Promote healthy eating instead of dieting
  • Eat “junk” food in moderation, do not forbid it
  • Learn about normal childhood growth and development
  • If a child or teenager insists on dieting, talk to your physician or healthcare professional
  • Have discussions with your children about how their body will change with puberty. Some children confuse normal development with getting “fat.”
  • Discuss the unrealistic images portrayed through the media. (E.g. Advertisers make you believe that you are fat, so that you will spend your money on their product).
(ANRED, 2005)