Question 2
No particular time frame was found to be most beneficial for intervention. However, when might education about unhealthy behaviors and eating disorders become appropriate and how should this information be given to individuals?
posted by Tiffany DeMay @ 1:20 PM
17 comments
17 Comments:
I think that we become body conscience at a young age, younger than high school. I think that nutrition and healthy eating should be incorporated in elementary classes. Not necessarily specific to unhealthy behaviors or eating disorders but education on healthy eating and developing a positive look on body image and positive role models. I think that Team Nutrition and Healthier US School Challenge does a great job of promote healthy eating and physical activity in schools, perhaps at least one lesson on body image would be helpful.
I think education about unhealthy eating behaviors needs to be addressed at an early age, around middle school. This is when children typically become more aware and embaressed about their bodies. Information should be given in health classes, but schools also need to be a good example in terms of having healthy meals in the cafeterias etc. for the children to see.
I believe the intervention should start much earlier than high school. These unhealthy habits are probably beginning to form long before the last couple years of high school. When children see their family or friends begin to diet or feel the media’s pressure to be thin and look good, this is more likely when they begin to try different unhealthy eating styles. And this is the age we should begin the interventions. It’s always good to raise awareness whether it is through school, the community, or the media. I think that another study similar to this one that observes unhealthy eating habits in younger aged individuals such as grade school through adulthood would be interesting. This could possibly give us a better idea of when these habits really start to form and then depending on the age group, we could find a more age appropriate form of intervention.
Providing education on eating disorders can be very tricky. I think it should definitely begin in upper elementary school (5th grade or so) but the lesson should be designed well. I have heard that teaching about eating disorders can sometimes teach people how to develop one. The lesson should focus on the negatives of eating disorders and they should be stressed big time. Then at the end of the lesson, healthy eating patterns and the benefits of them should be discussed.
Michela- I agree that middle school is the age where children start to become more aware of their bodies and other's around them. I do think that setting an example for kids is the best way to go for all staff in the schools. Their parents also need to be involved in setting a good example at home since many habits are formed at home before they ever even get to school. You also make a great point about displaying healthy items in the cafeteria. This is crucial to them eating healthy meals at school. They may even find something they love at school and ask for it at home which then brings a healthy item into their home for their entire family.
I think that education on disordered eating should start in junior high. During the elementary school years I think education should focus primarily on eating healthy. At the junior high age, kids are going through major changes and are subjected to more peer pressure and demands from sports, teachers, and parents. Teaching about disordered eating at that age should include information about how dangerous it can be and how to get help.
Michela, I agree that health class would be a great place to teach about eating behaviors. Displaying healthy choices in the cafeteria can help to remove some of the stigma that healthy foods have among children.
Jamie, I agree that parents need to model good habits as well. The more kids see healthy behaviors the more likely they will be to try them.
I remember having some sort of 'sex-ed/going through puberty' class in late elementary school. That type of class might be a good time to also talk about a healthy lifestyle and body acceptance to help kids feel good about their bodies as their shape changes. Education on unhealthy weight control behaviors and eating disorders might need to wait until kids are a bit older. I wouldn't want to introduce the idea of diet pills or other unhealthy behaviors to kids who didn't know about them.
Stephanie, you beat me to it. I feel the focus should be on healthy eating behaviors and age-appropriate portion sizes for younger school-aged children. Typically, children begin puberty around the age of 11-13. In my opinion, the focus should be put on nourishing our growing bodies and understanding the natural changes occuring...vs addressing unhealthy eating habits. Schools should be more involved in surveying their students' eating behaviors and determining when interventions should take place.
Meg, I completely agree with you on not introducing the idea of diet pills and other unhalthy behaviors to children until they have reached a higher age.
I think education would be appropriate as young as a child begins school. The information provided at these young ages does not have to be in depth about eating disorders, but provide some information on why kids need to eat a wide variety of food to be healthy and strong. As children get older, a method of intervention could be to hold a class or education session once a week to talk about issues with their body and food and really try and build self-esteem with these children.
Jamie-
I like your plan about teaching about the negatives of eating disorders and then focusing on the positives of healthy eating. We should be able to see both sides, yet we should really try and leave the group with positive feelings towards eating a good diet.
Meg-
Good point about not introducing diet pills etc. I feel if anyone were to brign up this topic it would need to be clarified that these methods are extremly unhealthy. Putting a little scare into the kids might be beneficial!!
I feel that middle school is the perfect time to address and discourage unhealthy eating behaviors. At this age they know that they should be eating foods from different food groups but are still having all their food provided for them. This is also right before media takes over and starts to implement its idea of body image, which is a perfect example of what unhealthy eating behavior does/is.
It seems like most of us are on the same page about middle school being about the best time to start addressing this subject. Jamie you are correct, the lesson must be well written. Maybe you found ur calling.
Jamie, thank you for pointing out that bringing up the topic of eating disorders too early can actually be harmful because it can teach someone how to have an eating disorder. I think it is important to teach kids about eating disorders at a time where social pressures about weight and problems with body image have not really begun for the majority of the kids.
Jamie - How interesting that learning about eating disorders can actually lead to someone developing them. I guess that's the same concern I had about diet pills. I sense a growing consensus that emphasizing heathy eating is the important thing and that education about eating disorders has to be carefully planned so as not to create more problems than it prevents.
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