A Preventive Intervention Program in Adolescent Schoolgirls:A Longitudin al Study

Abstract

Background: To explore the impact of a prevention program on the eating and body attitudes of a sample of adolescent schoolgirls. Methods: The program involved lessons and group discussions of general adolescent problems and eating disorders. A total of 254 16-year-old schoolgirls were evaluated, of whom 154 participated in the program and a further 154 subjects formed the control group. Variations in weight, Eating Attitudes Test and Eating Disorders Inventory at a 1-year follow-up were compared for the two groups. Results: Among high-risk subjects, no significant differences were found between the prevention and the control group. The preventive program appeared to reduce significantly body dissatisfaction and to decrease the risk of bulimic attitudes in low-risk subjects. Conclusions: Providing schoolgirls with the correct information about eating disorders did not encourage unhealthy attitudes to eating and weight regulation practices. However, for high-risk subjects more intensive and specific intervention may be required, for which further research is needed.

A preliminary controlled evaluation of an eating disturbance psychoeducational intervention for college students

“…That there was a fourfold reduction in the rate of threshold and subthreshold eating disorder diagnoses suggests this intervention had a clinically meaningful impact. It was also noteworthy that this intervention produced reductions in several documented risk factors for eating pathology (i.e., thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, and dieting), although other interventions have achieved this goal (Santonastoso et al, 1999;Winzelberg et al, 2000). Theoretically, these positive effects resulted from a confluence of several change processes.…”

Outcome Predictors in Anorectic Patients after 6 Months of Multimodal Treatment

“…These personality evaluations, from the initial contact with the patients or even in the context of prevention programs [44], aim to facilitate the differentiation of therapeutic strategies and identify potentially nonresponding patients at an earlier point. Prevention of negative development could reduce the risks of the disorder deteriorating to a chronic level, reduce the costs of assisting these patients, and avoid an unfavorable outcome and foster well-being [45].…”

Integrated prevention of obesity and eating disorders: barriers, developments and opportunities

“…Only four programmes included BMI measures (77)(78)(79)(80) , only one included a questionnaire on food habits (81) , and only two included components addressing to health promotion and healthy weight control (78,82) . These meta-analyses, focusing on ED prevention, have reviewed studies aimed at child, adolescent and adult populations, using different types of prevention approaches (77,78,80,82,140) designed to address eating attitudes and behaviours and other adolescent issues in the general community or those classified as being at high risk for ED, and insufficient evidence to support the effect of two programmes (79,81) designed to improve self-esteem. > Data from two didactic (141,142) ED awareness programmes could not be pooled for analysis.…”