Lesson Plans - Body Image

Prevention Guidelines for Educators

Teach Health Promotion Strategies
Intervene at Multiple Levels

In the past we believed that stressing the dangers of eating disorders or having guest speakers talk about their recoveries would act as a warning to students.

Recent research has shown that this approach might not only glamorize disturbed eating behaviours, but also possibly teach kids weight change techniques they hadn't considered.

Guideline 1: Teach Health Promotion Strategies

We now realize that the best approach is to teach health promotion strategies such as:

• Media literacy skills (i.e., advertising techniques; male and female stereotypes; unrealistic standards for weight, shape and appearance)
• Positive life skills (i.e., assertive communication, stress management, friendship and dating skills)
• Puberty awareness (i.e., realistic expectations for weight gain, growth and bodily changes)
• Healthy lifestyle skills (i.e., healthy eating, active living and self-acceptance)
• Ways of coping with sexual harassment and weight and shape teasing

Guideline 2: Intervene at Multiple Levels

Effective prevention includes intervening at multiple levels:

1. Raise awareness among parents and teachers about:
   • Their own attitudes concerning weight and shape.
   • The influence their eating and physical activity practices have on their children.
2. Promote positive school environments that:
   • Provide adequate time and space for meals.
   • Discourage starve-a-thons.
   • Promote zero-tolerance for weight and shape teasing.
3. Provide opportunities to empower girls during early adolescence to prevent predictable drops in self-esteem (e.g., support groups).
4. Promote tolerance for natural increases in weight and body fat among girls and boys experiencing puberty.
5. Ensure consistent health promotion messages throughout the community.

For more information about eating prevention strategies visit The Ontario Community Outreach Program for Eating Disorders or call 1-800-463-1856.