Preventing obesity and eating disorders in adolescents: Five recommendations for health care providers

1. Inform adolescents that dieting, and particularly unhealthy 

    weight control behaviors, may be counterproductive. Instead

    encourage positive eating and physical behaviors that can 

    be maintained on a regular basis.

2. Do not use body dissatisfaction as a motivator for change. 

    Instead, help teens care for their bodies so that they will 

    want to nurture them through healthy eating, activity, and 

    positive self-talk.

3. Encourage families to have regular, and enjoyable, family

    meals.

4. Encourage families to avoid weight talk: talk less about 

    weight and do more to help teens achieve a weight that is

    healthy for them.

5. Assume overweight teens have experienced weight 

    mistreatment and address with teens and their families.

Preventing Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents: What Can Health Care Providers Do?

Journal of Adolescent Health Volume 44, Issue 3, March 2009, Pages 206-213