Preventative Measures for Parents and Teachers

Children are greatly influenced by parents and teachers, who play an important role in preventing eating disorders and promoting positive body image in children. Some important guidelines for parents and teachers include:

Try not to label foods as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ as this may lead to cravings and feelings of guilt when ‘bad’ foods are eaten
Avoid using food as bribes or punishment
Avoid promoting unrealistic or perfectionist ideals in terms of your child’s behaviour, grades and achievements. It is important to encourage your child to do their best and to judge their achievement based on their own scale to promote feelings of self acceptance
Where possible, promote the idea there is no one definition of beauty or body shape and that beauty exists in all shapes and sizes
Accept that children are likely to have different eating habits from adults – for instance, they may require food more frequently during the day or may go through periods of liking or disliking particular foods
Children learn by example - never skip meals, participate in fad diets or enforce fad diets upon children
Encourage your child to express their feelings freely. Open communication in the home diminishes the likelihood of anxious feelings being expressed through food-related behaviours
Allow your child to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full - don’t force them to eat everything on their plate
Show an acceptance of different body shapes and sizes, including your own
Don’t criticise or tease children about their appearance
Encourage sport and regular exercise to help maintain your child’s healthy weight and foster their body confidence
Help children develop a critical awareness of the images and messages they receive from television and magazines

Last Updated: February 2009

Eating Disorders

Preventative Measures for Parents and Teachers