A preventive intervention program in adolescent schoolgirls: A longitudinal study

Background: To explore the impact of a prevention program on the eating and body attitudes of a sample of adolescent schoolgirls. Methods: The program involved lessons and group discussions of general adolescent problems a nd eating disorders. A total of 254 16-year-old schoolgirls were evaluated, o f whom 154 participated in the program and a further 154 subjects formed th e control group. Variations in weight, Eating Attitudes Test and Eating Dis orders Inventory at a 1-year follow-up were compared for the two groups, Re sults: Among high-risk subjects, no significant differences were found betw een the prevention and the control group. The preventive program appeared t o reduce significantly body dissatisfaction and to decrease the risk of bul imic attitudes in low-risk subjects, Conclusions: Providing schoolgirls wit h the correct information about eating disorders did not encourage unhealth y attitudes to eating and weight regulation practices. However, for high-ri sk subjects more intensive and specific intervention may be required, for w hich further research is needed.