Prevention is Key: Why Early Intervention Matters in Eating Disorder Care
EDFA Research Committee Member and Paediatric Dietitian Dr Lyza Norton shares her expert insights on the importance of early intervention in eating disorder care.
For over two decades, I worked as a Paediatric Dietitian in outpatient clinics and hospital settings, supporting young people with eating disorders and their families. I was fortunate to love my work – being a “people person” who enjoyed providing calm and comfort during incredibly challenging times. Despite the difficulties these devastating illnesses presented, I felt I was making a meaningful difference as part of a dedicated team.
What led me to shift my focus toward prevention? Like many significant changes, it wasn't one moment, but an accumulation of experiences.
I’ve always been passionate about early intervention. My favourite consultations were the “near misses” – when families noticed concerning changes in their child’s eating behaviours and sought help before hospitalisation became necessary. Having sat with countless families in hospital wards, watching their children suffer from acute malnutrition, I became determined to help young people avoid reaching that critical stage.
I also witnessed how diet culture was affecting increasingly younger children. When a prep teacher called me about students starting a “skinny club,” it sparked a wave of curiosity I just couldn’t ignore. Soon, I noticed “diet talk” everywhere – at the school gates, fitness classes, coffee shops – it was truly pervasive. This observation drove me to engage in a PhD with a focus on disordered eating, a major risk factor in the development of eating disorders.
My research explored how we can effectively utilise prevention strategies, particularly in the early years and through the use of appropriate food communication. This work was driven by the understanding that early intervention can significantly impact long-term health and well-being. I’m now dedicated to sharing my findings and collaborating with the community to implement evidence-based preventive programs.
Today, I’m privileged to work with like-minded people in research and health promotion focused on eating disorder prevention, while still maintaining some clinical work. This continued frontline experience with families constantly reinforces my conviction that prevention and early intervention are absolutely crucial – every family I meet reminds me why we must catch these issues before they take hold.
The Nourish, Nurture, Notice program exemplifies this collaborative approach – a joint initiative by Eating Disorders Families Australia and The Embrace Collective that brings me immense joy to be part of.
This two-part program includes:
- A 30-minute Masterclass video featuring healthcare professionals and carers sharing expertise about early warning signs.
- Fortnightly online Drop-In Sessions where parents and carers can ask questions about early warning signs and disordered eating. I facilitate these sessions with support from carers who bring valuable lived perspectives.
The Drop-in Session are effectively an informal Q and A session where parents/carers have the opportunity to ask one or two nutrition-related questions. Questions around eating habits and nutritional adequacy will be discussed, and I will provide guidance as to the next steps – whether that is further home monitoring, a GP consultation, or emergency treatment.
By focusing on prevention and early intervention, we hope to catch and address disordered eating before it develops into life-threatening conditions, sparing families the heartbreak I've witnessed too many times.
We have the power to change lives through prevention and early intervention. That’s why I’m so excited about Australia’s first-ever online prevention program, Nourish Nurture Notice.
By focusing on these strategies, and equipping parents with the knowledge to recognise and respond to the early signs of disordered eating, we can catch potential health issues before they escalate.
Think about it: we’re talking about sparing families in our community, and especially our kids and young adults, the devastating impact of life-threatening conditions. This program is a game-changer, offering crucial education and support at a time when it’s needed most. It’s time to prioritise prevention, invest in our young people’s health, and build a healthier future together, right here in Australia.
Additional resource:
- Strong Enough Podcast: Early signs of an eating disorder with Paediatric Dietitian Lyza Norton
Dr Lyza Norton is the Masterclass and Drop-In Session Expert for EDFA’s Nourish, Nurture, Notice program. Lyza has extensive clinical experience as a Senior Paediatric Dietitian working across the acute and community sector in the area of eating disorders, over the past two decades. She is passionate about integrating preventive interventions within the wider community and has research interests include the early years, food communication and preventive interventions.
Dr Norton’s research papers:
– Disordered eating prevention: Co-designing a brief intervention for use in Community Child Health Services
– Early Warning Signs for Eating Disorders in Children: A Realist Synthesis of Websites Summarizing Caregiver and Consumer Perspectives
Nourish, Nurture, Notice is EDFA’s NEW initiative and Australia’s first-ever online prevention program focused on early identification and intervention for disordered eating and prevention of eating disorders in young people.
Designed specifically for parents and carers of school-aged children and adolescents, the program provides vital education to enable recognition of and response to the early signs of disordered eating to prevent the development of an eating disorder.
About Eating Disorders Families Australia
Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA) is the only national organisation solely for carers and families of those with an eating disorder. EDFA provides support, EDucation, advocacy, and FREE online counselling services and annual membership. EDFA has a private Facebook forum, providing a safe place for eating disorder carers and family members to share experiences, seek advice and assistance, and find hope.