Preventing Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents

Evidence-based guidance by pediatricians can help identify behaviors that predispose to obesity and eating disorders.

As many as one third of adolescents who seek treatment for an eating disorder previously had a weight >85th percentile. To address concerns that obesity prevention may promote development of eating disorders, the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a clinical report.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal observational studies have shown that the following behaviors are associated with obesity and eating disorders in adolescents:

Dieting: associated with a 2.0-fold increased risk for becoming overweight and a 1.5-fold increased risk for binge eating.
Family meals: improve the quality of dietary intake and provide opportunities for modeling healthy food choices.
Weight talk: comments made by parents about their own weight or to encourage their c…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics