Secondary prevention of eating disorders in college women at risk

Abstract

Although a large percentage of college women are thought to be at risk to develop eating disorders, surprisingly few prevention programs directed toward such students have been reported. In this study, 10 women who identified themselves to be at risk to develop an eating disorder participated in an 8-week prevention program; 9 others served as the no-treatment control group. The curriculum for the prevention program focused primarily on the exploration of cultural ideals of thinness, education about nutrition and the development of healthy eating behaviors, and the identification of dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about shape and weight. Data from questionnaires obtained before and after the prevention program revealed that the participants made positive changes with respect to body image concerns and the importance of appearance; no changes were observed in the control group. The results are discussed in the context of how and where to best direct prevention efforts on college campuses.