Development of a fact sheet for educators promoting awareness of eating disorders

Eating disorders (ED) and eating-related problems are significant medical and psychological concerns that primarily affect adolescents and typically begin during school age. EDs have been associated with under-nutrition and mental health disorders or symptoms that can significantly affect students' functioning and ability to learn. Because EDs typically begin during school age, educators are likely exposed to pupils who may be at risk. As such, it is important for educators to be actively involved in the prevention, identification, and referral of pupils suspected of having EDs or eating-related problems. While educators report the need for more information concerning signs, symptoms, risk factors, and how to support pupils who appear to have eating problems, they prefer information that is quickly available. This doctoral project described a process for developing an accessible and user-friendly fact sheet for educators. Based on research findings pertinent to educators, the fact sheet presents basic information about EDs and eating-related problems and focuses on the most widely recognized categories of risk factors and warning signs in order to promote awareness. The fact sheet also introduces the role of educators in prevention and restoration of welfare and provides a list of references and resources. The methods used in this project included expert content review and field-testing of the fact sheet as it was being developed. Three eating-disorder experts reviewed the fact sheet for content accuracy, and 25 educator participants at a kindergarten to 8th grade (K--8) school in Southern California reviewed the fact sheet to determine usefulness via an evaluation questionnaire created by the author. Overall, the field-test participants responded positively to the fact sheet and felt that educators would benefit. This fact sheet could provide an important source of information for educators interested in increasing their awareness of EDs and in assisting in early identification, prevention, and restoration of welfare of pupils coping with EDs or eating-related problems.