Eating disorder Eating disorder is a behavioural disturbance with usually serious and long-term health damage. The continuous intellectual and emotional topic is “eating”.It involves food or its refusal and goes together (psychosomatics) with psycho-social disturbances and the attitude towards one’s body. If the disturbance is obsessive, one speaks of addiction or dependence.

Definition of eating disorders: An eating disorder exists if all your thoughts and everyday life are focused on this topic and weight reduction is the most important thing in your life.

Indications Obsessive activity around meals; meals are the most important event in your life Malnutrition; lack of nutrition; obesity Too much sport Sadness; dissatisfaction; social isolation

How to contact the people concerned?  Some do’s  Some don’ts Try to talk to these people Accuse him/her Treat them normally Act as therapist Take people concerned seriously  eating disorder is no mere slenderness mania Comments about the weight, like: „You have put on weight, that‘s great!“ Support their therapy Mention the topic in front of others: it could feel like bullying Visit self-help groups Direct questions, like: „Do you have an eating disorder?“ Respect „no“ Possible contact with parents is normally not welcome

Prevention ·  Strengthen self-confidence  mistakes are part of our life ·  Make the person feel well in his/her body; talk about body change of puberty in time ·  Speak about the pointlessness of diets to Jojo -effect. Try to question beauty ideals and to develop a critical fashion consciousness ·  No bribery with meals  no love substitute ·  Regular movement  strengthens self-confidence · Talk about problems frankly; help to solve problems ·  Respect privacy ·  Promote individuality; support independence ·  No elaborate info about the illness  danger of imitation ·  “No” to thin models

Target groups of prevention Parents Teachers and educators Trainers Doctors