Internet‐based prevention of eating disorders

Abstract

Abstract Internet technology has greatly influenced communication and information transfer worldwide and has also provided novel avenues for psychological research and treatment delivery. Preliminary research with computerized interventions have been promising and several studies have shown support for electronically delivered programmes related to eating disorder prevention among college‐aged women. Acceptability and efficacy findings for two Internet‐based eating disorders prevention programmes, Student Bodies, an asynchronous intervention, and a synchronous chatroom study, are presented. Initial findings indicate that computerized programmes are promising and future directions of research in this emerging field are discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.