“No one did a thing about it:” Adults’ beliefs about the effects of poor eating disorder education in U.S. public schooling

Maegan E Jones,Elizabeth H Blodgett Salafia

doi:10.35831/mj2021

Abstract

Introduction. Educational policies in the United States addressing eating disorders are lacking, despite noted increases in risk factors such as body dissatisfaction that occur throughout students' education. Similarly, there seems to be no available scientific information on the potential effects of this lack of education. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the type, amount, and frequency of information regarding eating disorders that college students recalled receiving throughout their educational careers. Methods. The sample consisted of 43 participants, mostly female, from a tri-college area in the Midwestern U.S. Ten qualitative focus groups were conducted in order to assess a wide range of eating disorder topics, including education about eating disorders. The four education-related codes generated using thematic analysis by the researchers were: When participants learned about eating disorders, when they wish they learned, what they learned, and what they wish they learned. Results. The majority of participants indicated only receiving occasional information in a health class if at all, and this often did not occur until mid-to-late adolescence, which is problematic as the risk factors for eating disorders would have begun years earlier. Most information centered on simplistic definitions of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Participants said that education should be more in depth than simple definitions, and noted that this information should begin early in elementary school (ages 6-10). Participants also stated that they wished they had known more of the warning signs and how to seek help, as well as how to approach and help someone else. Conclusions. This study shows how the U.S. education system may fail to inform youths about the risks for and consequences of eating disorders, potentially leaving them vulnerable to developing unhealthy habits. The data provide suggestions for future educational efforts, namely that information should start in schools in early childhood, as information later in their educational careers may be too late. Keywords: Education, eating disorders, prevention, public policy

Highlights

Educational policies in the United States addressing eating disorders are lacking, despite noted increases in risk factors such as body dissatisfaction that occur throughout students' education
The purpose of this study was to determine if participants believed that the education regarding eating disorders they received was lacking, and if so, what effect that lack of education had on their perceived ability to nourish their bodies, seek help if needed, and/or assist others who were struggling with body image and/or their relationship with food
Questions asked in the focus groups were developed by the second author, who had been researching eating disorders for over a decade and saw a gap in the literature regarding individuals’ perceived needs of eating disorder education

Summary

Introduction

Educational policies in the United States addressing eating disorders are lacking, despite noted increases in risk factors such as body dissatisfaction that occur throughout students' education. In a U.S study, researchers found that in the 12 months before adolescents (aged 1317) were surveyed, approximately 2.8% of them had suffered from a clinically diagnosable eating disorder (Kessler et al, 2012) These disorders and unhealthful habits can lead to a variety of different health problems, such as osteoporosis, hair loss, lanugo, amenorrhea, dental problems, slow heart rate and low blood pressure, kidney problems, mental illness, and even death (Crow, 2005; Crow et al, 2009; Fichter & Quadflieg, 2016; Hudson et al, 2004). Even girls as young as four were more likely to desire to be thinner if their mothers exhibited dietary restraint, while fouryear-old boys with fathers who expressed negative opinions of obese adults were more likely to endorse a thin ideal (Damiano et al, 2015) This is exasperated with the onset of puberty, as the rapid, yet normative changes in both fat-to-muscle and weight-to-height ratios lead many teens to feel increasingly uncomfortable with their shape and size. Over 70% of adolescent girls want to be thinner, and over 70% of adolescent girls and boys are concerned about their appearance (Himanshu et al, 2020; Lawler & Nixon, 2011; Schneider et al, 2013)

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