Children and adolescents live in a world where thin is "in" and the pressure to conform to society's view of the ideal body, when combined with other life factors, can set the stage for an eating disorder, a psychiatric illness characterized by an extreme desire to be thin and an intense fear of weight gain. Clinical eating disorders and disordered eating habits can seriously threaten physical health as well as the ability to learn. Although school personnel are not able to treat students with an eating disorder, they can play an important role in prevention because the school environment and the social dynamics of adolescence can have a significant impact on an adolescent's potential for developing an eating disorder. The goal is to create a school culture in which students feel accepted regardless of their shape and size and adopt lifestyle choices that minimize their risk of engaging in unhealthy eating habits. This article discusses some of the most common eating disorders, their symptoms and causes, and presents suggestions on what schools can do with regard to prevention of, and intervention in, eating disorders.