Eating Disorders
...ersonal identity” (Shisslak, 1987, p.665). The instructors of this class would give information on how food and emotions connect. They would ask the students a question concerning what they think the ideal body looks like and why they think that image is ideal. Peers seem to have a lot of influence on each other, so it would be a good idea to have peer-leaders so that they can have small group discussions. The program at the senior high level is almost the same, except it emphasizes more on personal values and self-worth. They would also have a guest speaker come in that would portray a good role model for young girls. She would have to be successful, healthy, and assertive (Shisslak, 1987). The only way that these programs can work is if teachers and other faculty members are well educated on the symptoms, consequences, and prevention. Teachers and other faculty members have the best chance of preventing eating disorders because adolescents are in their presence the majority of the day (Shisslak, 1987). If they are well educated about eating disorders, then they can help save a lot of young girls (Shisslak, 1987; see also Robert-McComb, 2001). Teachers should be very active in the prevention of eating disorders. “Prevention should be directed to children and young people of all ages (preschool through college) through learning opportunities that promote healthy eating and exercise, encouragement related to body acceptance; and teaching of key social and personal skills, including those necessary for building healthy relationships and for developing critical thinking and problem solving” (Robert-McComb, 2001, p.245). The Family The family can act as a source of prevention as well. It may be surprising to many, but the family might actually cause eating disorders. That is why the families play such a crucial role in prevention. One link to families and eating disorders is that many family members have the tendency to tease others about their looks and weight. Research has found that this teasing can play a role in pre-pubertal anorexia nervosa (Robert-McComb, 2001). A second link is that parents are in charge of food intake in young children. This can be a positive aspect in that the children eat healthy and they get what they need, but it can also be a negative factor by starting dieting behaviors at an early age (Robert-McComb, 2001). If parents are unaware about eating disorders, they can be educated through the schools. The schools should have parent meetings to discuss eating disorders and those parents who participate in PTA can discuss the topic at their meetings also. Many parents have no clue what the latest diets are; much less that their child has a disorder. Even if parents do recognize there is a problem with their child’s eating behavior, it does not mean they understand nor do they have the slightest idea about the health risks (Shisslak, 1987). This is why parents should receive education on eating disorders. The Community The community can also be a contributor to prevention. Valentine (1997) stated, “Students who see the community interested in their health, have positive role models to follow, and are provided opportunities to reinforce knowledge about health through community-sponsored activities will be much more likely to take health education lessons more seriously” (Robert-McComb, 2001, p.250). The community can reach out in many ways. One way is through the media. Shisslak (1996) stated that “because the media teach women what the ideal female body should be and how to attain the ideal by diet, exercise, cosmetics, and clothing, and these billion-dollar industries are only concerned about marketing products” (Robert-McComb, 2001, p.227). These industries are not concerned about what they are portraying to our youth. They could care less that there are people out in the world killing themselves so that they can be “beautiful” in society’s eyes. The media can hold back on their stereotypes that they set through their advertising. Another way that the community can reach out is through the fitness gyms and health spas. They need to have meetings with their clients or even just hand out pamphlets (Shisslak, 1987). The community can work on establishing diversity on weight, size, and shape of the body (Robert-McComb, 2001). The Results of Educational Programs Results of some prevention programs have had positive and negative results. In one trail done by Paxton (1993) found no improvement in what girls thought of body image and no reduction in dieting behaviors. O’Dea and Abraham (1999) had improvements in a self-esteem approach program for improving eating disorders and behaviors. They found lasting improvements in body-image and physical self-concept (O’Dea & Malony, 2000). Many research...