Q uarterly - Preventing childhood eating disorders

As well, all three involved diagnostic interviews to determine how well programs reduced eating disorder incidence (or the number of new cases) — but for girls only.16–17, 19 The Education Program was delivered universally regardless of risk, while Dissonance and the Body Project were delivered to girls at risk due to body image concerns.16–17, 19 Reaching out to all girls The RCT evaluating the E. [...] control methods (i.e., fasting, self-induced vomiting, and using laxatives or diuretics).16 How well did the targeted program work? The Dissonance program did not prevent the onset of anorexia, bulimia or binge-eating disorder at three- year follow-up.18 Although only 0.8% of teen girls who participated in the program developed one of these disorders, compared with 3.0% in the control group, the d. [...] Girls in the Dissonance program did have significantly lower body dissatisfaction at both one- and two-year follow-up, and less dieting at one-year but not final follow-up.17–18 The Body Project successfully prevented the onset of eating disorders, including threshold and subthreshold cases of anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder and/or other eating disorders.19 Specifically, over the two-year. [...] In other words, the Body Project led to a 77% lower incidence of eating disorder to prevent eating diagnoses compared with expressive writing.19 disorders is a crucial The Body Project produced other positive outcomes.19 At two-year follow-up, compared way to reduce the with expressive writing, the program led to these significant benefits: less restricting food to number of young change weight or. [...] Expanding efforts to prevent eating disorders is a crucial way to reduce the number of young people experiencing these conditions and the associated mental and physical stress and distress.