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There is no known way to prevent anorexia nervosa. Early treatment may be the best way to prevent the disorder from progressing. Knowing the early signs and seeking immediate treatment can help prevent complications of anorexia.

Seeking early diagnosis and treatment improves the chances that treatment will be successful.6
For family members of children and teens

There are many ways adults can help children and teens form a healthy view of themselves and learn to approach food and exercise with a positive attitude. Doing this may prevent some children and teens from having this disorder. See tips for developing.

A healthy approach to food and exercise. Avoid punishing or rewarding your children with food. Be a good role model for healthy eating and exercising.

A healthy view of self and others. Teach children to take good care of their bodies. Avoid making comments that link being thin to being popular or healthy.

For more information, see the topics Weight Management and Healthy Eating for Children.

Primary prevention methods are aimed at minimizing the familial, individual and societal factors that put individuals at greatest risk for the development of Anorexia Nervosa. Caretakers are in the best possible position to help prevent eating disorders in their children. In particular, for mothers it is critical to model a healthy relationship with both their bodies and with food. One risk factor that has been identified in the development of an eating disorder is having a mother who diets. For fathers, it is critically important not to criticize anyone based on body shape and weight. In fact, parents should work to promote an environment of size acceptance and avoid using critical language to describe any particular body, size or shape that is less than ideal. Parents should do whatever they can do to promote healthy self-esteem and body image in their children. Physical activity should be encouraged, but not for the purpose of maintaining a particular physique. Parents should talk to their children about the artificial and unattainable nature of models in the media. Having regular family meals with children has been shown to be one protective factor in the onset of eating disorders.

On a societal level, efforts can be made to persuade the media industry not to glamorize excessively thin, unrealistic images and support those companies and campaigns that promote size diversity. School systems seem like a likely place to promote eating disorder prevention, however, they need to be extremely cautious in how they present such programs. Research has demonstrated that presentations aimed at providing information about eating disorders (signs, symptoms, etc.) as a means of prevention are not particularly effective and can actually backfire by giving young people dangerous ideas about weight loss methods (purging, severely restricting, etc.). To prevent eating disorders, school programs should be geared towards increasing self esteem and body image, promoting acceptance of all body sizes, educating students on the dangers of dieting, encouraging students to respect and care for their bodies, to honor their bodies’ signals of hunger and satiety, to manage stressors in their lives in adaptive ways, and to be critical viewers of the media.

Secondary prevention methods involve identification and early intervention when symptoms of an eating disorder begin to surface. Parents, family members, friends, physicians, coaches and teachers should be educated about the signs and symptoms of eating disorders and help individuals obtain access to treatment resources. Research suggests that early intervention with Anorexia Nervosa is a strong predictor of recovery.

There’s no guaranteed way to prevent anorexia or other eating disorders. Primary care physicians (pediatricians, family physicians and internists) may be in a good position to identify early indicators of an eating disorder and prevent the development of full-blown illness. They can ask questions about eating habits and satisfaction with appearance during routine medical appointments, for instance.

If you notice a family member or friend with low self-esteem, severe dieting and dissatisfaction with appearance, consider talking to him or her about these issues. Although you may not be able to prevent an eating disorder from developing, you can talk about healthier behavior or treatment options.