Editing Eating disorder (section)

== Prevention ==
Prevention aims to promote a healthy development before the occurrence of eating disorders. It also intends early identification of an eating disorder before it is too late to treat. Children as young as ages 5–7 are aware of the cultural messages regarding body image and dieting.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/02/13/living/feat-body-image-kids-younger-ages/index.html |title=Kids as young as 5 concerned about body image |vauthors=Wallace K |website=CNN |date=13 February 2015 |access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref> Prevention comes in bringing these issues to the light. The following topics can be discussed with young children (as well as teens and young adults).
* Emotional Bites: a simple way to discuss emotional eating is to ask children about why they might eat besides being hungry. Talk about more effective ways to cope with emotions, emphasizing the value of sharing feelings with a trusted adult.<ref name=":1">{{cite journal |vauthors=Frayn M, Livshits S, Knäuper B |title=Emotional eating and weight regulation: a qualitative study of compensatory behaviors and concerns |journal=Journal of Eating Disorders |volume=6 |page=23 |date=2018-09-14 |pmid=30221002 |pmc=6137864 |doi=10.1186/s40337-018-0210-6 |doi-access=free}}</ref>{{irrelevant citation|date=December 2023|reason=Source does not discuss preventative measures.}}
* Say No to Teasing: another concept is to emphasize that it is wrong to say hurtful things about other people's body sizes.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Vogel L |title=Fat shaming is making people sicker and heavier |journal=CMAJ |volume=191 |issue=23 |page=E649 |date=June 2019 |pmid=31182466 |pmc=6565398 |doi=10.1503/cmaj.109-5758}}</ref>{{irrelevant citation|date=December 2023|reason=Source is an uncited claim.}}
* Intuitive Eating: emphasize the importance of listening to one's body. That is, eat when you are hungry, pay attention to fullness, and choose foods that make you feel good. Children intuitively grasp these concepts. Additionally, parents can reinforce intuitive eating by removing value judgments of food as "good" or "bad" from conversations about food.<ref name=":1" />{{irrelevant citation|date=December 2023|reason=Source does not discuss preventative measures.}}<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Cerea S, Iannattone S, Mancin P, Bottesi G, Marchetti I | title = Eating disorder symptom dimensions and protective factors: A structural network analysis study | journal = Appetite | volume = 197 | pages = 107326 | date = June 2024 | pmid = 38552742 | doi = 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107326 | doi-access = free | hdl = 11577/3512182 | hdl-access = free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Linardon J | title = Positive body image, intuitive eating, and self-compassion protect against the onset of the core symptoms of eating disorders: A prospective study | journal = The International Journal of Eating Disorders | volume = 54 | issue = 11 | pages = 1967–1977 | date = November 2021 | pmid = 34599619 | doi = 10.1002/eat.23623}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Messer M, Tylka TL, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Linardon J | title = Does body appreciation predict decreases in eating pathology via intuitive eating? A longitudinal mediation analysis | journal = Body Image | volume = 43 | pages = 107–111 | date = December 2022 | pmid = 36113280 | doi = 10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.08.014}}</ref>
* Positive Body Talk: family members can help prevent eating disorders by not making negative comments about themselves. When children hear family members complain that they are fat or about the proportions of their bodies, this influences their own body image and is a contributing factor to the development of eating disorders.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = MacDonald DE, Dimitropoulos G, Royal S, Polanco A, Dionne MM | title = The Family Fat Talk Questionnaire: development and psychometric properties of a measure of fat talk behaviors within the family context | journal = Body Image | volume = 12 | pages = 44–52 | date = January 2015 | pmid = 25462881 | doi = 10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.10.001}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Langdon-Daly J, Serpell L | title = Protective factors against disordered eating in family systems: a systematic review of research | journal = Journal of Eating Disorders | volume = 5 | issue = 1 | pages = 12 | date = 2017-03-28 | pmid = 28360998 | pmc = 5370448 | doi = 10.1186/s40337-017-0141-7 | doi-access = free}}</ref>
* Fitness Comes in All Sizes: educate children about the genetics of body size and the normal changes occurring in the body.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2019 |title=Introduction: Sociology, Food and Eating |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9781350022058.ch-001 |journal=Introducing the Sociology of Food & Eating |pages=1–28 |doi=10.5040/9781350022058.ch-001|isbn=978-1-350-02205-8}}</ref> Discuss their fears and hopes about growing bigger. Focus on fitness and a balanced diet.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/staying-active-at-any-size |title=Staying Active at Any Size {{!}} NIDDK |website=National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases |access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref>{{irrelevant citation|date=December 2023|reason=Source does not discuss eating disorders.}}

Internet and modern technologies provide new opportunities for prevention. Online programs have the potential to increase the use of prevention programs.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Manwaring JL, Bryson SW, Goldschmidt AB, Winzelberg AJ, Luce KH, Cunning D, Wilfley DE, Taylor CB |s2cid=30681111 |title=Do adherence variables predict outcome in an online program for the prevention of eating disorders? |journal=Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology |volume=76 |issue=2 |pages=341–6 |date=April 2008 |pmid=18377129 |doi=10.1037/0022-006X.76.2.341}}</ref> The development and practice of prevention programs via online sources make it possible to reach a wide range of people at minimal cost.<ref>National Research Council & Institute of Medicine. (2009b). Preventing mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders among young people: Progress and possibilities (M. E. O'Connell, T. Boat, & K. E. Warner, Eds.).Washington, DC: National Academies Press. p. 216.</ref> Such an approach can also make prevention programs to be sustainable.

Parents can do a lot for their children at a young age to impede them from ever seeing themselves in the eyes of an eating disorder. The parents who are actively engaged in their children's lives' often contribute to fostering a stronger sense of self-love in them.