School prevention programs
School-based programming can significantly contribute to prevention of eating, body image and weight-related problems by observing the 4 C's of prevention (Smolak and Levine, 2006. p. 369):
- Raising consciousness through education including gaining knowledge and building awareness
- Competency building through developing skills, e.g., critical analysis of media advertising and the ability to resist wrong messages
- Meaningful connections or relationships with peers, friends, families, adults, and community organizations and institutions, e.g., schools
- Change in community messages, norms, and practices, e.g., acceptance of different body types and sizes
School prevention programs available for use by school:
In addition, the National Eating Disorders Association provides curriculum on healthy body image and eating disorders in the form of an educator toolkit as well as access to school-based programs at www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/uploads/file/toolkits/NEDA-TKE-B01-Curriculum.pdf
