Abstract
This review is based on a body of literature surrounding eating disorders, students’ relationship with food and the wider impact of food culture on development and academic performance of students within the United States. It illuminates the trend of child and adolescent populations toward disordered eating, trouble with dieting and details how individual’s natural hunger and satiety cues diminish. It brings awareness to current rates of eating disorders including Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, and discusses western society’s view of beauty, the need for media literacy and a more positive body psychology. This literature review is the basis for development of a professional training module that helps educators conceptualize and implement healthy eating and body image culture programming within their school. A case is made for educators as disseminators of information through their role as leaders and sources of knowledge for children. The multi-dimensional influence internal and external realities have on student health is illustrated via Catherine Cook-Cottone’s (2006) Attunement Model and is succeeded by introduction to 3 axioms of student health and wellness: intuitive eating and nutrition, healthy physical activity and mindfulness and self-care. The axioms also provide educators guidelines on prevention, assessment, identification, and intervention of disordered eating and components of a quality program.