An estimated 2 million U.S. children alive today will have an eating disorder before reaching the age of 20. Young people with eating disorders have significantly worsened physical and mental health outcomes in youth and adulthood. Research over the past few decades has identified policy avenues for eating disorder prevention that are feasible and evidence-based, yet there has been little action either federally or at the state level in evidence-based eating disorder prevention legislation. Raffoul’s research will explore whether youth-led priority-setting and advocacy is a strategy that can improve evidence use in eating disorder prevention policy. Drawing from seven states where eating disorder prevention policy has been introduced, the study aims to explore youth-identified priorities for state-level eating disorder prevention legislation; investigate the mechanisms by which youth advocacy influences policymakers’ evidence use; and assess the longitudinal impact of legislative advocacy and research engagement on youth. With this award, Raffoul will develop her expertise in evidence-based policymaking and participatory research approaches. She will receive mentorship from Gary VanLandingham, Professor of Public Administration at Florida State University, and Linda Sprague Martinez, Associate Professor of Macro Social Work Practice at Boston University.
Does youth-led legislative advocacy improve evidence use in eating disorder prevention policy?
