Eating Disorders and Behavioral Aspects of School-Based Prevention Programs

Abstract

School-based eating disorder programs have been described and evaluated by controlled studies in several Western countries. The new generation programs, adopting an interactive educational approach and other innovative strategies (e.g., dissonance-based approach, healthy weight-control behaviors, cognitive restructuring techniques, strategies to improve body image by building general self-esteem, and strategies using Internet and other modern technology), obtained significant reductions of some established risk factor for eating disorder, and a significant reduction of eating disorder psychopathology. These outcomes are encouraging, considering that first-generation didactic prevention interventions were ineffective in changing dysfunctional attitudes and unhealthy behaviors. Good results have been obtained, in particular, by selective prevention programs, using an interactive format, dissonance approach, and by focusing on participants in middle to late adolescence. The combination of school-based prevention programs with public health strategies aimed at creating an environment with lower risk has the potential to produce a real reduction in the incidence of eating disorders.