Prevention of eating disorders: Impact on female adolescents from Argentina with and without dieting behavior

Abstract

Evidence-based eating disorder prevention programs are aimed at reducing established risk factors; however, controversy exists on whom preventive efforts should be targeted. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of a prevention program for eating disorders on female adolescents with and without dieting behavior. This program is a three-session, weekly intervention based on the principles of media-literacy and cognitive dissonance. Eighty-eight female adolescents aged 12-17 years from Buenos Aires participated in this uncontrolled trial. The adolescents completed a pre- and post-intervention assessment and a six-month follow-up. General linear models were computed for those with complete data. A significant decrease across time was observed in Drive for Thinness and Thin-ideal Internalization scores across all participants. However, a significant decrease in Bulimic Attitudes was only observed among those who reported dieting to lose weight. Furthermore, no significant changes were observed on Body Dissatisfaction scores. Thus, Dieting Behavior partially moderated the effect of the intervention. These mixed results support the effects of the prevention program while suggesting continued work is needed to improve the intervention.