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Testing the efficacy of an eating disorder prevention program
Author(s) -
Baranowski Mandy J.,
Hetherington Marion M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(200103)29:2<119::aid-eat1001>3.0.co;2-u
Subject(s) - eating disorders , psychological intervention , psychology , self esteem , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine
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. © 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 29: 119–124, 2001.