Preventing eating disorders with an interactive gender-adapted intervention program in schools: Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundThere are a high number of adolescents who are at risk of developing an eating disorder. There is, therefore, a strong need to implement prevention programs aimed at reducing the incidence of eating disorders at this critical age. Among other factors, successful prevention programs have been shown to be interactive, carried out by professionals, focused on educational as well as psychosocial elements and have taken risk factors as well as resources into account. The objective of this study protocol is to present the design of a new prevention program for eating disorders in schools.Methods/DesignThe gender-adapted prevention program extends over six school hours. It contains interactive and educational elements about eating disorders and their treatment. Participants pass through different exercises and reflect on the influences of the media, self-esteem, body perception and individual resources. A cluster-randomized controlled trial is chosen to evaluate the program. Based on an estimated effect size of d = 0.3 a total of 1848 participants are enrolled in the study. Eating disorder risk, internalization of Western beauty ideals, body dissatisfaction, self-concept as well as anxiety and symptoms of depression are measured before and immediately after the intervention as well as at a six-month follow-up. In addition, the intervention group evaluates the different components of the program.DiscussionThe study intends to test the practicability and efficacy of an interactive, gender-adapted ED prevention program in schools. Moreover, it will provide valuable information about the occurrence of eating disorder risk factors in school-aged children.Trial registrationISRCTN97989348; Registered 19 December 2012.

Girls-only vs. mixed-gender groups in the delivery of a universal wellness programme among adolescents: A cluster-randomized controlled trial

“…Although prevention programmes offered only to females have previously shown to be more effective [ 22 ], a programme that includes both sexes has several benefits, as Wiegel et al noted: “First, programs provided only for girls cannot be easily integrated into a typical school programme. Moreover, in spite of the lower prevalence of eating disorders in males, there is strong evidence that eating disorders burden boys in a similar way to girls” [ 23 ]. An intervention that addresses both males and females may also promote interaction between boys and girls, thereby helping both genders to see a wider picture when a between-gender misconceptions about attractiveness, thinness and muscularity are addressed.…”

Eficacia de los programas preventivos de trastornos alimentarios en adolescentes: análisis bibliográfico

“…El estudio con mayor tamaño muestral cuenta con un total de 1.848 participantes (Weigel et al, 2015), mientras que 81 es el tamaño de participantes menor (Rohde et al, 2014). La menor edad media de los de los sujetos es la del trabajo de Rohde et al (2014) con 12.1, y la más elevada es de 16,2 (Horney et al, 2015 Todos los programas pusieron de evidencia la eficacia de los programas cuando se compararon con el grupo control.…”

“…El programa se mostró eficaz de cara a reducir el riesgo de aparición de los TA. Weigel et al (2015) llevaron a cabo una intervención de 3 sesiones de 90 minutos en dos semanas, y se trabajaban aspectos relacionados con factores de riesgo de los TA tales como el ideal de belleza para chicos y chicas, la imagen corporal, la influencia de los medios, la presión de la familia, etc. El programa contiene elementos interactivos y educativos, y permitió reducir la influencia de factores de riesgo en la aparición de TA.…”

Deutschsprachige Präventionsprogramme für Essstörungen – Ein systematisches Review

“…Davon kamen 20 Programme aus Deutschland, ein Programm aus Österreich [22] und ein Programm aus der Schweiz [23]. Als primärpräventive Programme wurden identifiziert: Aufklärung und Prävention [24,25], Body Talk [26], Bauchgefühl [27], Essenslust und Körperfrust [28], every Body [29], Healthy Teens @ School [22], Jugend mit Biss [30], MaiStep (Mainzer Schultraining zur Essstörungsprävention [31]), POPS (Potsdamer Prävention an Schulen [32]), PriMa (Primärprävention von Magersucht) [33][34][35][36], Student Bodies [37][38][39][40] [60]; Weight Concern in EDE-Q, [57]; Shape Concern in EDE-Q [57]), Depressivität (k = 2) (Beck Depression Inventar (BDI), [61]), Schlankheitsstreben (k = 10) (Drive for Thineness in EDI-2, [58]; Drive for Thinness in EDE-Q, [57]), (Körper-) Selbstwert (k = 10) (Fragebogen zur Beurteilung des eigenen Körpers (FBeK), [62]; Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), [63]; Self-Description-Questionaire (SDQ-III-G), [64]; State-Self-Esteem-Scale (SSED), [65]) und Wissen (k = 9) (Selbstentwickelte Skala zur Erfassung des Wissens zu AN, [35], Wissenstest, [66]; Fragebogen zu gesunder Ernährung und Essstörungen, [67]). [33,35], Torera [41,42], Trainingsprogramm an Schulen [43], Student Bodies [38]).…”