title: Setting policy priorities to address eating disorders and weight stigma: views from the field of eating disorders and the US general public.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence and health consequences of eating disorders and weight stigmatization have prompted increasing discussion of potential policy actions to address these public health issues. The present study aimed to assess support for policy strategies to address eating disorders and weight stigmatization among the general public and relevant health professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  An Internet survey was fielded to a national sample of 944 US adults and 1,420 members of professional organizations specializing in eating disorders to examine their support for 23 potential policy strategies to address eating disorders and weight stigma. Participants also rated policy actions according to their potential for positive impact and feasible implementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Support for the majority of health and social policies was high in both samples. For example, strategies to 1) improve school-based health curriculum to include content aimed at preventing eating disorders, 2) require training for educators and health providers on the prevention and early identification of eating disorders, and 3) implement school-based anti-bullying policies that that protect students from being bullied about their weight, were supported by over two-thirds of participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that both health and social policy actions will be important in broader policy initiatives to address eating disorders and weight stigma.
authors.affiliation: Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, Yale University, 309 Edwards Street, New Haven CT 06520, USA. Rebecca.puhl@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Puhl
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neumark-Sztainer
authors.forename: S Bryn
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luedicke
authors.forename: Kelly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001835:Body Weight; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011640:Public Policy; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States