An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Profound words, especially as it relates to eating disorders - literally.
Eating disorders arise from a variety of physical, emotional, social, and familial issues, all of which need to be addressed for effective prevention. Prevention can be thought of in two primary ways – primary prevention and secondary prevention. Primary prevention is intended to stop an eating disorder from ever taking root. Primary prevention needs to take place early, before girls and boys learn to feel bad about their bodies. Good parental modeling is one of the keys to fostering a healthy, positive body image and acceptance.
Secondary prevention efforts are aimed at identifying the signs of an eating disorder early on, before it digs its root system deep. The earlier an eating disorder is identified and addressed, the better the chance for recovery. Eating disorders are serious and complex problems. Effective prevention lies in addressing the complexities from the physical, emotional, social, and familial issues that contribute to the rise of eating disorders.
Just as in a flower garden, the ground work is key to a fertile, productive display of beauty. Weeds can attack the root system – early detection and treatment is key to maintaining the health and vitality of the life to bloom.
The more help a person has in his garden, the less it belongs to him.
--William H. Davies
Prevention & Education:
