Comparative efficacy of eating disorders prevention programs.

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a universal (full vs. partial) school-based ED prevention administered to female secondary school students (n = 349). Students received either the full prevention program (learning basic concepts of nutrition, criticism of aesthetic models of beauty emphasizing extreme thinness, media literacy (ML)), a partial version of the program (without nutritional education), or no prevention program. Students were also classified on the presence or absence of distinct ED risk factors: Early menarche, overweight, dieting, negative attitudes to food and perceived pressure to be thin. Pre-test data were collected one week prior to implementation of the prevention program, and post-test data were collected on the last day of the program. Both the full and partial prevention programs reduced perceived pressure to be thin and improved eating attitudes and knowledge of nutrition in all the participants (regardless of risk); however, greater effect sizes were found among particular high-risk groups: Overweight participants in the partial intervention group achieved greater reduction in perceived pressure to be thin. The early menarche group had the greatest effects on perceived pressure to be thin with the full intervention. The individuals at-risk in terms of restrictive dieting and perceived pressure to be thin had the greatest effects on nutritional knowledge for the full program. School-based programs of universal intervention may have an important role to play in the prevention of ED, especially among groups with particular risk factors. Overweight participants in the partial intervention group achieved greater reduction in perceived pressure to be thin. The early menarche group had the greatest effects on perceived pressure to be thin with the full intervention. The individuals at-risk in terms of restrictive dieting and perceived pressure to be thin had the greatest effects on nutritional knowledge for the full program. School-based programs of universal intervention may have an important role to play in the prevention of ED, especially among groups with particular risk factors.