Eating disorders are more difficult to treat the more deeply rooted behaviors become. Prevention is any attempt to change the conditions that may lead someone towards disordered behaviors. Reducing risk factors, educating individuals, and providing support when a loved one is struggling are important ways to prevent the onset of an eating disorder. Early identification and intervention are important for more successful treatment outcomes.

Statistics Reveal the Need for Prevention Programming

• The peak onset of eating disorders occurs during puberty and the late teen/early adult years, but symptoms can occur as young as kindergarten. (Neumark-Sztainer, 2005)
• Over half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors like skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives. (Neumark-Sztainer, 2005)
• Girls who diet frequently are 12 times more likely to binge than girls who don’t diet. (Neumark-Sztainer, 2005)
• 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner. (Collins, 1991)
• 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat. (Mellin et al., 1991)
• The average American woman is 5’4” tall and weighs 140 pounds. The average American model is 5’11” tall and weighs 117 pounds. Most fashion models are thinner than 98% of American women. (Smolak, 1996)

Despite its prevalence, there is inadequate research funding for eating disorders. Funding for eating disorders research is approximately 75% less than that for Alzheimer’s disease. In the year 2005, the National Institute of Health (NIH) funded the following disorders accordingly:

Illness Prevalence Research Funds

• Eating disorders: 10 million $12,000,000*
• Alzheimer’s disease: 4.5 million $647,000,000
• Schizophrenia: 2.2 million $350,000,000