EVERY PERSON'S BODY is unique. Letting go of cultural ideas about the "perfect" body is key to developing a healthy body image—and it is a crucial step in preventing eating disorders. As one doctor explains, "It's important to be realistic about yourself. . . . Many women feel that they would like their bodies if they weighed ten pounds less. Why wait to like yourself? Do your best to like and accept your body as it is now."

The prevention of eating disorders also involves an increased awareness about one's relationship with food. Since dieting is so common in American culture, for some people the difference between a diet and a disorder is not perfectly clear. Often someone might be in denial about their own behavior, even when it is physically or psychologically unhealthy. For healthy dieting, it is essential to understand nutritional...