A school-based eating disorder prevention program (Me, You & Us) for young adolescents in Korea: A 3-year follow-up study

Objective: The study aimed to examine the feasibility and long-term effects of a school-based eating disorder prevention program for young adolescents in Korea.

Method: We followed up the students (n = 133) who had participated in the prevention program at 3 years ago to evaluate changes in body esteem and self-esteem between postintervention and 3-year follow-up, with investigating whether gender moderated the effect of time.

Results: Boys showed no decline in body esteem and self-esteem from postintervention to 3-year follow-up, indicating that the prevention program alleviated decreases in body esteem and self-esteem over time. Girls showed decreases in body esteem and self-esteem from postintervention to 3-years follow-up.

Discussion: This study provides evidence supporting the feasibility of the school-based eating disorder prevention program targeting mixed-sex, young adolescents in Korea. Given the developmental trajectories of decrease in body esteem and self-esteem during adolescence, the program may be efficient for boys over time. Boosters and/or complementary prevention approaches across gender are needed.