Primary Prevention: Reducing or eliminating the problem by understanding and addressing causes and risk factors.

Physicians are doing primary prevention whether they know it or not when they:

• Educate patients about nutrition

• Play the role of health educator

• Encourage healthy physical activity

• Promote positive body image

• Help families to communicate effectively, have healthy relationships, and build self-esteem

• Guide parents and children through the challenges of growth and individuation

Secondary Prevention: Identifying the problem early, before it becomes severe.

• Noticing changes in physical parameters such as growth, weight, vital signs

• Sharing concerns and providing initial counseling

• Educating patients about the importance of adequate nutrition and health habits

• Consulting to schools, athletic organizations, and other influential groups

• Extreme concern with body weight

Tertiary Prevention: Developing strategies to keep the problem from getting worse.

• Refer for appropriate therapy by knowing the resources in their area

• Break the denial by giving an historic perspective of their observations of the patient’s condition and potential consequences of the eating disorder

• Educate patients about the positive benefits of treatment

• Monitor medical status and keep patients stable while treatment proceeds

• Set a positive example of needing others by collaborating and communicating with mental health professionals

• Advocate for appropriate care when third party payers deny it

© 2005 National Eating Disorders Association
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