Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #100614

Ashley Falcon, MPH, Dept. of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC-56, Tampa, FL 33612, Karen M. Perrin, PhD, MPH, RN, Dept. of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC-56, Tampa, FL 33612, 813 974 6704, kperrin@hsc.usf.edu, and Bruce Lubotsky Levin, DrPH, MPH, Louis de la Parte Floirda Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MHC 2330, Tampa, FL 33612-3807.

Background: Prevention efforts for disordered eating have been limited and minimally effective. One explanation for these modest gains seems to be the reticent nature of eating disorders. Current methods and strategies lack sufficient means of tapping into the internal monologue of at-risk persons.

Purpose: A thorough review of the known literature was conducted to identify applications of internet technology in eating disorder prevention efforts as a means of developing greater insight for the future.

Methods: Science Direct and Ovid databases were used to locate relevant articles. Keywords used to conduct searches include ‘eating disorders', ‘anorexia nervosa', ‘bulimia nervosa', ‘binge eating', ‘prevention', ‘technology', ‘internet', ‘informatics', ‘computers', and ‘technology'. Seven studies were evaluated based on their use of internet technology, including electronic mail.

Results: The literature demonstrates the great potential of internet technology as a vehicle for eating disorder prevention. Internet-delivered prevention programs, primarily the Student Bodies program, report positive outcomes, such as improvement in body satisfaction and reduction of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors.

Conclusion: In light of the relative success that internet-delivered prevention programs have enjoyed, further research is necessary to confirm and expand upon current findings. Other forms of technology should also be assessed for their promise in the prevention of eating disorders.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe what Internet-delivered programs have been successful in the prevention of eating disorders.
• 2. Identify ways that Internet-delivered programs may prove to be useful in the future for the prevention of eating disorders.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Technology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.