An evaluation of an Internet-delivered eating disorder prevention program for adolescents and their parents.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effectiveness of Student Bodies, an Internet-delivered eating disorder prevention program for adolescents, and a supplemental program for their parents. METHODS One hundred fifty-two 10th grade females completing a health course at a private sectarian school, and 69 of their parents were assigned to either the Internet-delivered intervention group or to a comparison group (students) or wait-list control group (parents). Student participants completed subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory, Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire, and a content knowledge test. Parents completed the Parental Attitudes and Criticism Scale. RESULTS The main effects of the intervention were assessed pre- to post- and post- to follow-up using ANCOVA, with the baseline assessment of the independent variable as the covariate. Students using the program reported significantly reduced eating restraint and had significantly greater increases in knowledge than did students in the comparison group. However, there were no significant differences at follow-up. Parents significantly decreased their overall critical attitudes toward weight and shape. CONCLUSION The program demonstrates the feasibility of providing an integrated program for students and their parents with short-term positive changes in parental attitudes toward weight and shape.

[1]  R. Striegel-Moore,et al.  Exploring parents' attitudes and behaviors about their children's physical appearance. , 2010, The International journal of eating disorders.

[2]  C. B. Taylor,et al.  Effectiveness of an Internet-based program for reducing risk factors for eating disorders. , 2000, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[3]  D. Herzog,et al.  A follow-up study of 33 subdiagnostic eating disordered women. , 1993, The International journal of eating disorders.

[4]  Linda Smolak,et al.  The Relation of Sociocultural Factors to Eating Attitudes and Behaviors among Middle School Girls , 1994 .

[5]  Kristine H. Luce,et al.  The reliability of the Eating Disorder Examination-Self-Report Questionnaire Version (EDE-Q). , 1999, The International journal of eating disorders.

[6]  I. Litt,et al.  Factors associated with eating disorder symptoms in a community sample of 6th and 7th grade girls. , 2010, The International journal of eating disorders.

[7]  C. Fairburn,et al.  Studies of the epidemiology of bulimia nervosa. , 1990, The American journal of psychiatry.

[8]  C. V. D. van der Staak,et al.  Validation of the eating disorders inventory in a nonclinical population using transformed and untransformed responses. , 2010, The International journal of eating disorders.

[9]  C. B. Taylor,et al.  Reducing risk factors for eating disorders: comparison of an Internet- and a classroom-delivered psychoeducational program. , 2000, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[10]  Pamela K. Keel,et al.  Assessment of eating disorders , 2002 .

[11]  E. Koff,et al.  Perceptions of weight and attitudes toward eating in early adolescent girls. , 1991, The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

[12]  C. B. Taylor,et al.  Factors associated with weight concerns in adolescent girls. , 1998, The International journal of eating disorders.

[13]  D. Neumark-Sztainer,et al.  Dieting and binge eating among adolescents: what do they really mean? , 1998, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[14]  H. Wechsler,et al.  Guidelines for school health programs to promote lifelong healthy eating. , 1996, The Journal of school health.

[15]  D. Franko.  Rethinking prevention efforts in eating disorders , 2001 .

[16]  C. B. Taylor,et al.  Overweight, weight concerns, and bulimic behaviors among girls and boys. , 1999, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

[17]  J. Rodin,et al.  Mothers, daughters, and disordered eating. , 1991, Journal of abnormal psychology.

[18]  A. Drewnowski,et al.  Eating pathology and DSM-III-R bulimia nervosa: a continuum of behavior. , 1994, The American journal of psychiatry.

[19]  M. Levine,et al.  A controlled evaluation of an elementary school primary prevention program for eating problems. , 1998, Journal of psychosomatic research.

[20]  M. Levine,et al.  Toward an Empirical Basis for Primary Prevention of Eating Problems with Elementary School Children , 1994 .

[21]  Priorities in prevention research for eating disorders. , 1997, Psychopharmacology bulletin.

[22]  McKnight Investigators.  Risk factors for the onset of eating disorders in adolescent girls: results of the McKnight longitudinal risk factor study. , 2003, The American journal of psychiatry.

[23]  A. Winzelberg,et al.  Effects of a body image curriculum for college students on improved body image. , 1999, The International journal of eating disorders.

[24]  H. Kraemer,et al.  Weight concerns influence the development of eating disorders: a 4-year prospective study. , 1996, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[25]  W. Agras,et al.  Risk factors for the emergence of childhood eating disturbances: a five-year prospective study. , 1999, The International journal of eating disorders.

[26]  C. Fairburn,et al.  Assessment of eating disorders: interview or self-report questionnaire? , 1994, The International journal of eating disorders.

[27]  Miller Kd,et al.  Body-image therapy. , 1991 .