New guidelines for childhood obesity programs

The Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), a global professional association committed to leadership in eating disorders research, education, treatment and prevention, issued guidelines for childhood obesity prevention programs to ensure that community- and school-based efforts are carried out with equal concern for children's physical, social and emotional health.

The guidelines are published on the AED Web site, and can be found at http://www.aedweb.org/policy/index.cfm .

Rising apprehension about the health consequences of childhood obesity has led to the initiation of prevention programs, which are implemented with the best of intentions. However, the Academy is concerned that, in some cases, the programs contribute to negative self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and eating disordered behaviors among young people. AED applauds efforts to create environments that support children's health, and has taken steps to ensure obesity prevention programs have no unintended negative consequences.

"Childhood obesity prevention programs have important potential, but they must be administered with the child's overall health and well-being in mind," said AED President Judith Banker, LLP, MA, FAED. "Our guidelines will help schools and communities develop programs that address rising weights while emphasizing a healthy lifestyle."

Included in AED's guidelines for childhood obesity prevention programs:

• Programs should be careful not to use language that has implicit or explicit anti-fat messages, like "fat is bad" or "fat people eat too much."
• Interventions should focus on health, not weight.
• Weight is not a behavior, and is not an appropriate target for behavior modification.
• It is unrealistic to expect all children to fall into the "normal weight" category.
• Weighing students should only be performed when there is a clear and compelling need for the information.

Expanding the vision of obesity prevention programs to include the prevention of eating disorders and related issues will lead to better long-term health and safety for children enrolled in the programs.

The Academy for Eating Disorders is an international, trans-disciplinary professional organization with more than 1,400 members worldwide. AED provides education, training and a forum for collaboration and professional dialogue. Visit www.aedweb.org for more information on AED, eating disorders, and the guidelines for childhood obesity prevention programs.