Eating Disorders Prevention and Body Image Awareness Program

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

In the U.S., 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their lives, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. A nation preoccupied with weight, driven to lose or avoid gaining it, is pulling the trigger for disordered eating and eating disorders, while rates of obesity and poor dietary and physical activity patterns and associated health risks rise. The Eating Disorders Prevention and Body Image Awareness Program helps school and community professionals, students and parents understand that obesity prevention efforts need to include a focus on improving body image and identifying those with eating disorders as well as reinforcing the message that good nutrition and physical activity are healthy ways to fuel the body. The program provides a focus on how the media culture increases body dissatisfaction and dieting and how these two factors increase the risk for disordered eating and eating disorders. The program addresses risk factors, signs and symptoms of eating disorders and provides resources for support for those suffering and for their family members and friends.