Course | What Educators Need to Know About Eating Disorders

Audience: K-12 Educators
Est. Time: 30-40 minutes, plus optional resources
Learning Level: Introductory/Level 1
Curriculum Year: 2023/24
Reviewed: Nov 2024

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
• Increase knowledge and understanding of eating disorders.
• Learn about the potential risks and consequences of an eating disorder.
• Identify the biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to eating disorders.
• Learn essential ways to identify and engage with students who may have an eating disorder.
• Locate community and online resources about eating disorders.
• Access and implement child and adolescent eating resources that provide educator specific curriculum content, and classroom strategies.

About This Course

Each educator will have different levels of knowledge about Eating Disorders (ED); for some, the content will be a review, and for others, it will be additional or new information. Because the onset of eating disorders tends to be during childhood and adolescence - i.e. during the school years – increasing educator knowledge about eating disorders can improve outcomes. While educators are not expected to be clinicians or diagnose eating disorders, well-informed and supportive educators can be therapeutic for children and adolescents who may show symptoms of an ED or have an eating disorder.

A glossary attachment is available for you to reference during the course.

This five-section course replaced the former "Eating Disorders: What You Need to Know" course.