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Article: Preventing a continuum of disordered eating: going beyond the individual.
- Article from:
- The Prevention Researcher
- Article date:
- September 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Integrated Research Services, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Eating disorders are not just about food. Rather, they are complex mental disorders as defined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA, 1994). While full diagnosis is rare, the attitudes and behaviors that lead up to them are common and in some instances (such as with excessive exercise) even encouraged and rewarded. As such, the context in which these disorders develop needs consideration and eating disorder prevention and intervention efforts need to promote not only healthy eating and physical activity but also address mental health factors, such as body image.
When we have a narrow view of eating disorders ("why don't they just eat?"), we miss the ...