Primary Prevention of Eating Disorders in Children and a Proposed Parent Education Program

Abstract

Research suggests that body dissatisfaction and concern with weight gain, characteristic of eating disorders, begin in childhood. Given that eating disorders have a complex etiology, are often treatment resistant and result in chronic problems, prevention programs offer great appeal. The attitudes underpinning eating disorders begin during childhood, yet remain somewhat malleable, suggesting that prevention programs initiated during elementary school offer the best possibility for success. The current article reviews research on the etiology of eating disorders, general principles of prevention programs, and specific eating disorder prevention efforts developed thus far. The article proposes a parent education program aimed at promoting healthy eating attitudes and body satisfaction in children to help prevent the onset of eating disorders. The target population consists of the various adults involved in a young child’s life, such as parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors. Children in grades 3 through 6, approximately ages 8 to 12, are a particularly important group to target. The program is composed of four one-hour sessions, scheduled on four consecutive Saturdays, and is offered twice during the academic year. The first three sessions involve parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors and are didactic and interactive in nature. The fourth session includes the children, and involves an interactive puppet show. The current article concludes with a critique of the program and suggestions for future research.