Disordered Eating: How Schools and Families Can Better Support Young People

In Part One, Understanding the Rise in Disordered Eating Among Young People we explored the growing prevalence of disordered eating among young people and some of the factors contributing to this increase. While the issue is complex, there are practical steps both schools and families can take to support healthy attitudes towards food, body image and wellbeing.

Part Two explores the practical steps schools and families can take to support healthy attitudes towards food, body image and wellbeing.

Supporting Young People At School
School days are busy and demanding, requiring sustained concentration, energy and engagement. Promoting healthy eating habits is important for both learning and wellbeing. At the same time, we know excessive attention on food can create additional pressure for some children.

Teachers may discuss the importance of regular morning tea and lunch and encourage younger students to talk about foods they enjoyed that day. This helps reinforce that eating can be both enjoyable and social.

As students grow older, monitoring becomes more challenging as they eat in broader year level settings. However, teachers may still notice changes in weight, eating habits or discussions around food that warrant further attention.

If a student expresses concerns about a friend, these concerns should be taken seriously and may require consultation with the wellbeing team. Parents should also be informed when concerns arise, as they are best placed to seek medical advice and external support where needed.

Early intervention is critical before unhealthy patterns become deeply established.

Schools also play an important role in educating students about healthy eating, positive body image and the difference between disordered eating and diagnosed eating disorders. Accurate and evidence-based information is essential in challenging the myths that often circulate on social media.

For example, meal skipping is sometimes promoted as a weight management strategy. In reality, it can contribute to fatigue, headaches, dizziness and, in some cases, weight gain.

There should also be ongoing education around comments relating to physical appearance and body shape.

At Peninsula Grammar, we encourage students not to comment on another person’s appearance, even when the intention is positive. It is impossible to know how those comments may be received by the other person, so caution is important. These conversations are particularly relevant in settings such as change rooms during Physical Education classes and swimming programs.

Our dedicated Wellbeing pages in Zenith also provide links to resources and guides to support your child.

Teachers are also educated about potential warning signs, including:

• A strong focus on food
• Excessive exercise
• Weight loss
• Low energy levels
• Lethargy after lunch

These behaviours may indicate that further support is needed and should be followed up proactively.

Supporting Young People At Home
Parents also play a vital role in supporting healthy attitudes towards food.

One important consideration is the social aspect of family meals. Are there opportunities each week for family members to sit together, enjoy a meal and reconnect? Shared meals can strengthen relationships while reinforcing that eating is a normal and enjoyable part of daily life.

It is equally important to consider how adults speak about their own bodies, weight, eating habits and dieting. Children and young people are heavily influenced by the messages they hear at home.

When there is a strong focus on weight loss or dieting, children may begin scrutinising their own bodies more closely, even while they are growing and developing normally.

If concerns arise about a child’s weight, the focus should remain on body awareness, healthy habits and appropriate levels of physical activity rather than dieting or restrictive eating practices.

The language we use around food also matters.

For example, when enjoying a sweet treat or less nutritious food, it can be helpful to model balance and enjoyment rather than guilt. Celebrating food as something to be enjoyed in moderation supports healthier attitudes than treating it as something secretive or shameful.

Secrecy is often one of the most powerful features of eating disorders. Openness, transparency and positive conversations about food can help protect against unhealthy patterns developing.

Early Warning Signs Families Should Be Aware Of

Parents should seek support if they notice any of the following:

• Skipping meals or restrictive eating
• An obsessive focus on food, weight or exercise
• Significant weight changes
• Withdrawal from friends or activities
• Increased anxiety around eating situations
• Frequent bathroom visits after meals
• Low mood
• Perfectionism
• Heightened distress about appearance

Working Together
The most effective way to support young people is through partnership between families and schools.

If you notice changes in your child’s eating habits, attitudes towards food or concerns about body image, it is important to share these observations with the School. Staff are often able to provide additional insight into behaviours observed at school and within friendship groups.

When families and schools combine their observations, it becomes easier to identify concerns early and determine the most appropriate next steps. School staff can also assist families in accessing resources, referrals and specialist support where required.

Early intervention is associated with significantly stronger recovery outcomes.

If you notice changes in eating habits, mood, body image concerns or exercise patterns, seek support early. Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental health conditions, and timely intervention can make a substantial difference to recovery and long-term wellbeing.

Anne Stringer
Head of Wellbeing

Author: Anne Stringer BA (Psychology); BEd (Counselling Psychology); MEd (Student Wellbeing) – holds the position of Head of Wellbeing at Peninsula Grammar. Anne’s work is characterised by her ability to inspire and support young minds, contributing to a positive school environment.

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