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Testing the efficacy of an eating disorder prevention program
M J Baranowski1, M M Hetherington
1Department of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland.
Objective:
The efficacy of an eating disorder prevention program was tested in a group of preadolescent females. Improvements in self-esteem and eating behavior were predicted relative to a control group.
Method:
Two interventions lasting 5 weeks were designed and then administered to two groups of preadolescent females. Self-esteem, body esteem, dietary restraint, and eating pathology were measured before, immediately, and 6 months following an eating disorders prevention program (n = 16) and a similarly designed control program (n = 13) focusing on fruit and vegetable intake.
Results:
Dietary restraint in both groups decreased following the interventions. Self-esteem improved in the experimental group, but this was only marginally significant.
Discussion:
Eating disorder prevention programs may be most effective when targeted at older, more at-risk girls. However, encouraging healthy eating in both groups of preadolescent girls reduced dietary restraint, which may be an important step in the prevention of later eating disorders.