How the School System Can Support Eating Disorder Education

Happy World Teacher’s Day! Today on the blog we are going to pause to thank all the wonderful teachers in our lives-

 

Pause.

 

Thank you Teachers!!

 

Whether they are friends, family, our past teachers, or our students favorites, we have all been impacted by wonderful caring teachers in our lives.

I want to talk about the intersection of teachers, schools and eating disorders. When I talk about how schools can support eating disorder treatment and eating disorder education, this is by no means an individual teacher problem. We need school systems, curriculum developers and board of education members to make changes to education materials and requirements in order for eating disorder education to be reformed in our schools. That will take some passionate parents, community members, therapist and educators to push for this reform and get it in front of the right people. Parents with children in eating disorder treatment are going to be very important in this cause- but they are also completely overwhelmed and burnt out in most cases! If you are looking for eating disorder treatment in Columbus, Ohio or eating disorder treatment in Ohio, visit my website to learn more.

Historically, mental health and eating disorders have not been talked about in school. This is a very new development in terms of education curriculum and the culture in general. It will take a while for mental health and eating disorder education to be “the norm” and be included in schools throughout the country. We can be patient, while also using our voice to share our passion for educating people about eating disorder. As we know from research, education about mental health and suicide prevention is a positive community intervention and using these programs to make services available to those in needs has been successful. Eating disorder education and prevention would likely follow the same path, though there is not much research on this yet. To prevent eating disorder, we have to educate students and faculty on the warning signs and how they can help. We also need to reduce the stigma around eating disorders and dispel many of the misconceptions and stereotypes that surround eating disorders. If we can use education to reduce the stigma, more students will be willing to speak up and seek help.

So first, let’s talk about where eating disorder education is now-

 

Option 1- Nowhere.

Many schools and curriculums do not cover eating disorder education at all. Not in health class, general education or even through mental health programs. Eating disorder facts and information are likely absent from many of your own schools. This is a great opportunity to explore options for adding in education around eating disorders to your child’s school. Either by finding a qualified provider to give a presentation (many therapists, children’s hospitals and community mental health centers are willing to do this) or by finding an education/curriculum online and advocating for adding it into a part of education on mental health. To learn more about how to distinguish eating disorders from anxiety or other mental health concerns, read this post.

 

Option 2- Health class.

 

Sometimes even worse than no eating disorder education at all. Health class and eating disorders intersect at the bane of my existence and have proven to cause nothing but stress and problems for many of my clients. The education provided on eating disorders in most health classes is outdated, if not completely false. It is often filled with misinformation, stereotypes and extremely triggering language. Many clients have cited health class and curriculum about eating disorders as a main trigger for the beginning of their eating disorder. If we know something we are teaching is harming our students more than helping, shouldn’t we be doing something about it?

Beyond direct instruction about eating disorders, there are often assignments and curriculum filled with harmful diet culture messages and activities such as tracking food and calories, labeling food as healthy vs. unhealthy and harmful messages about diet & exercise. We know through research that scare tactics around food and diet do not work, and only do the opposite of what we hope for them to do, creating harmful relationships with food which leads to worse health markers. Our education system needs to remove diet culture messages and teach health promoting behaviors, things we have control over, like movement and eating a variety of foods.

If your child is in health class this year, there are things you can do to prevent harm, especially if they are dealing with an eating disorder or are in eating disorder treatment or eating disorder therapy. Below is a letter for students or parents to send to principals or teachers regarding eating disorders in the school system from NEDA.org, the National Eating Disorder Association.

Dear  _______ ,

Hello, I am a student/ parent at _______. I’d like to inform you about an issue that’s important to me and ask for your help. Eating disorders are serious and dangerous mental illnesses that affect many high school students and need to be discussed. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 5.4% of children between the ages of 13 and 18 will suffer from anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder at some point in their lifetime. This equates to more than 2.2 million adolescents. Additionally, 95% of those who suffer from an eating disorder are between the ages of 12 and 25. Eating disorders largely affect young people, so while all mental health issues should be addressed, eating disorders deserve a spotlight in high school conversations about health.

One of the most difficult aspects of eating disorders to grapple with is their stigma. Many sufferers feel that they cannot open up about their struggles. Because of this, adults working at school should know about the issue. All teachers, administrators, and counselors should review NEDA’s Educator Toolkit so that they are informed about the signs and dangers of eating disorders. This will help staff identify students who may need assistance, even if just an appointment with a school psychologist. A more informed adult is a more sensitive one, and students may feel more comfortable opening up to someone who is more knowledgeable about what students experience. 

Students spend so much of their time at school that staff may be able to recognize an issue and intervene earlier than family could. School psychologists, counselors, social workers, and nurses should receive further training in how to handle a struggling student who approaches them with eating issues. For example, they should offer screenings  aligned with that on NEDA’s website to help students assess their mental health. They should also be aware of more intensive care options for struggling students who need it. Sports coaches should review which warning signs are specific to athletes, and what action should be taken if they are observed. Students should feel like they can turn to any adult at school and be taken seriously.

However, students with eating disorders should not be the only ones talking about them. Schools need to address the gravity of these conditions in health classes, so that students recognize the danger, as well as triggers for those struggling. NEDA's Educator Toolkit includes some videos and books that can be useful in a classroom setting. It also includes a list of online resources that can be distributed to students so that they can learn more and seek help privately if they wish. Giving Safe Presentations on Eating Disorders can help teachers understand how to effectively present on eating disorders without causing harm. 

Changes can also be made in the school’s general culture. An obsession with food, fitness, and weight should not be promoted anywhere. In gym classes, healthy lifestyles including balanced diets and moderate exercise should be encouraged, but metrics like BMI should not be used because it is an inaccurate and outdated calculation that only serves to damage students’ self-esteem. Students should never be weighed in public, be told their BMI, or be told to lose or gain weight. In the cafeteria, there should be a feeling of balance, not an unhealthy preoccupation with food. There should not be anti-obesity posters, messages about calorie intake, dieting, or nutrition rules. Students should have a variety of options for food, including options for that fuel the body and mind. Every food offers something different, and each body requires something different. There should be a culture of acceptance around food.

All of these practices are helpful, but they’re nothing if the student body is not informed that resources exist. NEDA brochures, including “What is an Eating Disorder?” and “How to Help” should be placed in administrative offices, classrooms, and the gymnasium so that students can access information on their own. Participating in NEDA Awareness Week, the last week in February dedicated to raising awareness for eating disorders, can also help reach more students.  The school can participate by hosting screening events, having assemblies with speakers and informative videos, and displaying posters and infographics about eating disorders around the school. They can all be found at nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-involved/nedawareness/resources.

Eating disorders are too prevalent to be left unaddressed. I hope that you take some of these ideas into consideration. It would be very meaningful to me and anyone else who is affected. Thank you very much for your time.

Best,

_______

If you have questions about how to address these concerns with your child’s school or need support, please visit my website and schedule a free consultation call. If you have a child or teen in Ohio who is dealing with eating concerns, please visit my site to learn more about eating disorder treatment in Ohio. I provide virtual eating disorder therapy services from Columbus, Ohio and work with teens and young adults in college. I treat anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in adolescents in Ohio.

Schedule a free consultation call.

This blog is intended to be educational and informational and does not substitute for professional medical and therapeutic help, which is highly recommended when treating an eating disorder. If you would like help treating your child’s eating issues or want to learn more, Schedule a free consultation call today.