FacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestYouarehereHome/LearnPreventionPreventionisanysystematicattempttochangethecircumstancesthatpromote,initiate,sustain,orintensifyproblemslikeeatingdisorders.Eatingdisordersarisefromavarietyofphysical,emotional,andsocialissues,allofwhichmustbeaddressedforeffectivepreventionandtreatment. Recordsofeatingdisordersexistthroughouthistoryandinculturesaroundtheworld.Sincethe1950s,however,reportsofalleatingdisordershaveincreaseddramatically,especiallyinWesterncultures.Atthesametime,peopleinthesesamecultureshaveincreaseddietingforweightlossandtheamountofattentiontheypaytothefoodtheyeatandtheirbodysizeandshape.Thissuggeststhatthesefactorsmayplayaroleinthedevelopmentofeatingdisorders.Scientistsbelievethatiftheycanreducetheriskfactorsforeatingdisorders,thentheycanreducethechancesthatapersonwillgoontodevelopaneatingdisorder.Preventioneffortsmayinvolvereducingnegativeriskfactors,likebodydissatisfaction,depression,orbasingself-esteemonappearance,orincreasingprotectivefactors,likeanon-appearance-orientedself-definitionandreplacingdietingandbodysnarkingwithintuitiveeatingandappreciationforthebody’sfunctionality. Althoughit’stoosoontosaythatanyspecificpreventionprogramcanreducetheratesofdiagnosableeatingdisorders,theseprogramsdoshowbenefitsinreducingriskfactorsforeatingdisorders,suchasfasting,purging,andotherunhealthyweightlossbehaviors,aswellasindecreasingdisorderedeating.WHATAREPREVENTIONPROGRAMS?Preventionprogramsaresystemsandtrainingsdevelopedinordertopreventeatingdisorderonsetinapopulation.Preventionprogramsvarybasedonthesizeandnatureofthegroupforwhomtheprogrammingisintended.TheMentalHealthInterventionSpectrum,developedbytheNationalAcademyofSciences(CommitteeonthePreventionofMentalDisorders,2009),classifiesdifferenttypesofpreventionprogramsaccordingtotheirgoals,methodsandaudiences:Universal/primaryprevention:Theseareprogramsorinterventionsaimedatallpeopleinapopulation(e.g.,alladolescentsinNewYorkCityorstudentsinahealthclass).Designedtochangepublicpol