ABSTRACT
This chapter describes conflicting and common ground in health communication for the broad spectrum of weight-related problems, including obesity, eating disorders, and disordered eating. The discussion is intended to assist with safe and effective communication of health information and implementation of health promotion initiatives. The information has relevance for a range of contexts and communication channels. Dieting can be distinguished from healthful dietary practices and cognitions, such as having a balanced diet, eating the recommended serving of fruits and vegetables, and sustainable dietary practices. Eating disorders are chronic, complex and serious life-threatening illnesses with significant psychiatric and medical morbidity. Obesity and eating disorder health communication initiatives, including health promotion strategies, policy, mass mediated campaigns, and school-based programs, tend to be designed and implemented separately. Modern culture and environment make it easy for people to develop disturbances in weight, eating and exercise behavior, and body image; these disturbances are hard to modify.
