title: A controlled intervention to promote a healthy body image, reduce eating disorder risk and prevent excessive exercise among trainee health education and physical education teachers.
abstract: This study examined the impact of two interventions on body image, eating disorder risk and excessive exercise among 170 (65% female) trainee health education and physical education (HE&PE) teachers of mean (standard deviation) age 21.6 (2.3) who were considered an 'at-risk' population for poor body image and eating disorders. In the first year of the study, the control group cohort (n = 49 females, 20 males) received the regular didactic health education curriculum; in the second year of the study, the Intervention 1 cohort (n = 31 females, 21 males) received a self-esteem and media literacy health education program and in the third year of the study, the Intervention 2 cohort (n = 30 females, 19 males) received a combined self-esteem, media literacy and dissonance program using online and computer-based activities. Intervention 2 produced the best results, with males improving significantly in self-esteem, body image and drive for muscularity. Intervention 2 females improved significantly on Eating Disorders Inventory Drive for Thinness, Eating Disorder Examination and excessive exercise. The improvements were consistent at 6-month follow-up for females. It is feasible to promote body image, reduce body dissatisfaction and reduce excessive exercise among trainee HE&PE teachers via a health education curriculum.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education, La Trobe University, Edwards Road, Bendigo, Victoria 3550, Australia. z.yager@latrobe.edu.au
authors.forename: Zali
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yager
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Dea
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005178:Faculty; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D015397:Program Evaluation; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult