Prevention & Media Literacy

Prevention programs have been shown to produce sustained reductions in eating disorder risk factors.

Prevention programs (including cognitive dissonance-based, school-based and mindfulness-based programs) demonstrate good efficacy, showing up to 51% reduction in at least one eating disorder risk factor(1).

Selective prevention interventions aimed at high-risk groups including females and adolescents over the age of 15, and delivered by professionals, may be most effective(1).

Media literacy programs

There is growing evidence around prevention programs that teach media literacy.

Equipping young people with the skills to critically appraise the images and content encountered online, and avoid negative comparisons, has shown to significantly reduce shape and weight concerns(3).

GPs can share evidence-based prevention programs and resources with clients, to help minimise eating disorder risk.