A new overweight and obesity prevention program called 5-2-1-Go! may actually help to regulate and prevent eating disorders among adolescent girls, strangely enough. Harvard School of Public Health researchers studied the program's effects on both middle-school girls and boys. Eating disorders among adolescents often lead to hazardous measures to control weight--such as self-induced vomiting or the abuse of diet pills and laxatives, or just not eating at all (anorexia). Other studies have shown that the middle school years are a critical time, because this is when many girls start to engage in dangerous weight-control behaviors. Researchers found that 4% of middle-school girls with only a regular health education started to vomit or abuse diet pills, while only 1% of girls in 5-2-1-Go! did so. The programemphasizes eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, and reducing TV watching time.The study took place in 13 Massachusetts middle schools.
Overweight Prevention Program May Reduce Eating Disorders Among Adolescent Girls
Posted by Nirmala N.
A new overweight and obesity prevention program called 5-2-1-Go! may actually help to regulate and prevent eating disorders among adolescent girls, strangely enough. Harvard School of Public Health researchers studied the program's effects on both middle-school girls and boys. Eating disorders among adolescents often lead to hazardous measures to control weight--such as self-induced vomiting or the abuse of diet pills and laxatives, or just not eating at all (anorexia). Other studies have shown that the middle school years are a critical time, because this is when many girls start to engage in dangerous weight-control behaviors. Researchers found that 4% of middle-school girls with only a regular health education started to vomit or abuse diet pills, while only 1% of girls in 5-2-1-Go! did so. The programemphasizes eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, and reducing TV watching time.The study took place in 13 Massachusetts middle schools.