What Can Parents do to Prevent Eating Disorders in Their Children?
Advocates in the eating disorder treatment and prevention community say that one of the most important things you can do to prevent eating disorders is to project a healthy body image, and to remain self-confident. You should also avoid making judgments about other people on the basis of their body types, and avoid comparing yourself or others to people with specific body types. By doing so, you can model body-positive behavior. Excessive diet and exercise talk is also not recommended, as is constant casual dieting and the establishment of “good” and “bad” foods. Instead, parents are encouraged to educate their children about healthy and nutritious foods to eat, focusing on positive, beneficial exercise, rather than exercise for the purpose of losing weight. It can also help to discuss the serious risks of eating disorders with people; many people are not aware of how dangerous eating disorders are, and a little bit of education can go a long way if you want to prevent eating disorders
