Some strategies that have been effective in intervention with youth on other issues such as tobacco smoking and substance abuse may work, for example, peer group and image-building strategies. You can emphasize, for example, that dieting now can affect their weight and body proportions later. They take that more seriously than long-term effects such as infertility or osteoporosis. Stressing stamina instead of appearance may also be a successful approach. Young people should be helped to develop a counter-culture to support one another.
Counselling has to be available.
Children have to know there is someone to rely on if they think they need help. Age-appropriate programs should be conducted annually. We need to do the best we can with our current knowledge while continuing to search for better prevention solutions. More community studies are required because clinical data cannot be generalized to the population at large. Prospective rather than retrospective data should be examined.