Health TrialsbyHealthPanel

Nature for Body Image

ConditionsBody ImageEating BehaviorsSelf-CompassionInteroception
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexFemale
Age18-35
SponsorUniversity of Padova

About this trial

Nature exposure has been found to be particularly beneficial for body image, as recent studies have identified a positive association between time spent in nature and positive body image. Positive body image, defined as the ability to accept and respect one's body, has been linked to greater life satisfaction and engagement in healthy behaviors. Conversely, negative body image is recognized as a public health concern due to its detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. It has been associated with symptoms of Body Image Disorders (BIDs), including Eating Disorders (EDs) and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).

The Nature for Body Image (NBI) project aimed to examine the impact of a structured nature exposure intervention on improving body image among young women aged 18-35 years.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Females

Age 18-35 years old

Disqualifiers

Full-blown body image disorder

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Nature for Body Image

    Behavioral

    The intervention will include a range of activities in nature (e.g., in a public park), such as meditation, body scans, and grounding exercises.

  • Simple nature exposure

    Behavioral

    The intervention will simply involve spending time in nature (e.g., in a public park), without specific guidelines.

  • Structured Built Environment Exposure

    Behavioral

    The intervention will mirror the activities of the structured nature exposure intervention (e.g., meditation, body scans, and grounding exercises), but without any exposure to nature.

Treatment groups

60 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groups
Group A: Structured Nature ExposureExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Simple Nature ExposureActive comparator 1 intervention
Group C: Structured Built Environment ExposureActive comparator 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Negative Body Image

Assessed with the Italian - Body Image Concern Inventory (I-BICI), a 19-item self-report questionnaire measuring negative body image. Scores range from 19 to 95, with higher scores indicating greater negative body image.

Time frame
5 weeks
2

Body Appreciation

Assessed with the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), a 10-item self-report questionnaire measuring body appreciation. Scores range from 10 to 50, with higher scores indicating greater body appreciation.

Time frame
5 weeks
3

Functionality appreciation

Assessed with the Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS), a 7-item self-report questionnaire measuring functionality appreciation. Scores range from 7 to 35, with higher scores indicating greater functionality appreciation.

Time frame
5 weeks

Secondary outcomes

1

Dysfunctional Eating Behaviours and Risk of Developing Eating Disorders

Assessed with the Eating Disorder Risk Composite Score (EDRC) of the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3). The Eating Disorder Risk Composite Score (EDRC) investigates the risk of developing eating disorders with 25 items. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater risk of developing eating disorders.

Time frame
5 weeks
2

Functional Eating Behaviors

Assessed with the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), a 23-item self-report questionnaire measuring intuitive eating. Scores range from 23 to 115, with higher scores indicating greater intuitive eating.

Time frame
5 weeks
3

Embodiment

Assessed with the Experience of Embodiment Scale (EES), a 34-item self-report questionnaire measuring embodiment. Scores range from 34 to 170, with higher scores indicating greater embodiment.

Time frame
5 weeks
4

Interoceptive Awareness

Assessed with the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), a 32-item self-report questionnaire measuring interoceptive awareness. Scores range from 0 to 160, with higher scores indicating greater interoceptive awareness.

Time frame
5 weeks

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

University of Padova

Lead sponsor

Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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