Eating Disorders

School Nutrition Education Program

Eating disorders among adolescents are on the rise nationwide. Parents and teens seeking information about eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia will find information at www.nationaleatingdisorders.org. This site can help identify disordered behaviors and provides prevention strategies, educational materials, and resources for treatment. The suggested presence of an eating disorder merits further medical evaluation.

Additional websites for accessing credible information are www.river-centre.org and www.thebodypositive.org. River-centre makes available a screening tool that persons can use to find out if they are at risk or might have an eating disorder. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) developed by David M. Garner is a standardized measure of symptoms and concerns characteristic of eating disorders and is often the first step in a two-stage screening process. The Body Positive presents information in a fun, teen-friendly format. The mission statement of The Body Positive reads "to empower people of all ages, especially our youth, to celebrate their natural size and shape instead of what society promotes as the ideal body."

The curriculum Healthy Body Image: Teaching Kids to Eat and Love Their Bodies Too! is an integrated curriculum that is proven effective for grades four, five, and six. You can find the Healthy Body Image curriculum at nationaleatingdisorders.org, under materials. (MAP Alignments).