The treatment process for anorexia nervosa is long and often involves frustration from the patient, family as well the nurse, (Grothaus, 1998) thus, prevention of this illness is vital. The target of prevention "relies most heavily on providing information to increase understanding, enhance attitudes, and promote healthier behavior" (Schwitzer, Bergholz, Terri & Lamieh, 1998, p. 4). Grothaus states that "students need to be informed about eating disorders through prevention programs in the schools" (p. 154). Through education programs nurses can educate adolescents about dieting, what it can lead to and the dangerous effects it has on the body. In addition, "a growing body of literature suggests that adolescents lack accurate nutrition knowledge and have poor eating habits" (Hunnicutt & Newman, 1993, p. 35). Thus, nurses can empower and provide them with further knowledge regarding food choices, the correct proportions as well exercising regularly. Nurses also need to be aware of the societal changes going on around them especially media roles. As indicated by Field et al (2001), "several cross-sectional studies have observed a positive association between exposure to beauty and fashion magazines and higher levels of weight concerns and eating disorder symptom in girls (p. 54). For that reason it is vital for nurses to educate and remind parents to serve as role models to their children at a young age and to love them for who they are.

In addition research has shown that older adolescents like college students seem to be more worried about body image, physical fitness, weight management and personal attractiveness than other healthcare issues (Schwitzer et al, 1998). Thus, these researchers say that "by focusing attention on this problem area, health center clinicians have the potential to influence the health behavior of a wide range of students and address the issues the students view as most important (Schwitzer et al, p. 8). MacMullen & Brucker (1987) mention that community health nurses can play have vital role in this area by examining and assessing a family for its potential to develop a member with anorexia. By looking at the four characteristics that were mentioned earlier "enmeshment, overprotection, rigidity and conflict avoidance," (MacMullen & Brucker, p. 58) and using them to answer questions related to family systems, nurses can identify high risk families for anorexia nervosa. "Early identification of at-risk families may enable treatment to be initiated prior to overt development of anorexia, or at the earliest symptoms [thus] Referral by a community health nurse for appropriate therapy not only promotes early diagnosis and treatment, but may also enhance the possibility of prevention" (MacMullen & Brucker, p. 60). By nurses understanding the effects mass media, family and culture has on adolescents, they can begin to facilitate early identification and health promotion strategies to prevent anorexia nervosa.