Body Dissatisfaction

Body dissatisfaction is common among adolescents and is a well-established risk factor for the development of eating disorders. Young athletes may be particularly vulnerable because they are exposed to appearance-related pressures from both society and sport environments. Despite the high prevalence of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders among young athletes, there is a lack of evidence-based, large scale prevention programs specifically designed for young athletes. The Young Athlete Body Project is an age- and sport-adapted version of the evidence-based Body Project, a cognitive dissonance-based prevention program that has been shown to reduce body dissatisfaction, internalization of appearance ideals, and eating disorder risk in adolescents and adults from diverse population groups. A pilot study of the Young Athlete Body Project among adolescent athletes demonstrated that the program was acceptable and perceived as beneficial by participants. The findings also indicated promising improvements in the internalization of the thin body ideal and increased awareness of appearance-related pressures, supporting the need for further evaluation in a larger randomized controlled trial. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Young Athlete Body Project among adolescent athletes attending sports-specialized lower and upper secondary schools in Norway. The program aims to promote positive body image and body acceptance, reduce the internalization of appearance ideals, strengthen resistance to appearance-related pressures, and prevent body dissatisfaction and eating disorders among adolescent athletes. The intervention program will contribute with new evidence-based knowledge on the effect of a prevention program targeting body dissatisfaction and eating disorders among adolescents athletes.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether a digital intervention can improve body image and psychological well-being among adolescent boys who attend fitness clubs. Fitness club environments and social media often promote appearance ideals related to muscularity and leanness, which may contribute to body appearance pressure, body dissatisfaction, and psychological distress among boys. In this cluster-randomized controlled trial, approximately 260 boys aged 15 to 18 years will be recruited from fitness clubs in Oslo, Norway. Participants from fitness clubs assigned to the intervention group will receive access to a 12-week website-based program consisting of four interactive modules focusing on body image, psychological well-being, critical social media literacy, and attitudes toward food and sports supplements. Participants in the control group will continue their usual activities. The study will examine whether the intervention reduces internalization of appearance ideals and body appearance pressure and improves body appreciation, health-related quality of life, psychological well-being, social media-related behaviors, and attitudes toward food and sports supplements. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at a 6-month follow-up.

The purpose of this study is to learn if a novel online single-session intervention can help improve body dissatisfaction in new moms. The active intervention condition, Body Acceptance After Baby (BABI), uses acceptance-based skills to help participants cope with body dissatisfaction. BABI will be evaluated against another active intervention condition (a brief infographic that provides psychoeducation about body image during postpartum) and a waitlist control condition.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the Body Project, which is an eating disorder prevention program for youth 15-22 years old. The main question it aims to answer is 'Can an eating disorder prevention program, specifically the Body Project, be successfully delivered to youth in Nova Scotia'? This study will determine the feasibility of implementing the Body Project in Nova Scotia by assessing the following objectives: 1. Acceptability (how well the Body Project is received by, and the extent to which it is perceived as meeting the needs of, youth in Nova Scotia). 2. Demand (the extent to which youth in Nova Scotia are interested in and willing to engage with the program). 3. Integration (the extent to which the Body Project is judged as feasible by the group facilitators). 4. Effectiveness (the extent to which the Body Project reduces eating disorder risk factors in youth in Nova Scotia). Participants will: * Attend a total of 4-4.5 hours of Body Project group sessions, which are led by peer mentors. * Complete outcome measure questionnaires before their first session and after their last session. * Participate in a focus group with their session group members after their last session.

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a contemplative practice called Feeding Your Demons (FYD), based on a secular adaptation of Tibetan Buddhism, in improving psychological well-being, body image, body acceptance, compassion, and self-deconstruction in adult women. Participants will be randomly assigned to either FYD or an active control group practicing mindfulness meditation. Psychological variables will be assessed before and after the intervention, and at a six-month follow-up. Additionally, a qualitative exploration will be conducted through interviews with a subgroup of participants.

Social media (SM) is a key communication tool, particularly for young women aged 15-29. While SM fosters social connections, it is also linked to negative effects on mental health, including poor body image, low self-esteem, and maladaptive perfectionism. These issues arise due to social comparison with idealized images, especially on platforms like Instagram, which can contribute to disordered eating behaviours. Research suggests that reducing SM use can improve mental well-being, body image, and eating disorder symptoms. However, current interventions have not simultaneously addressed both reducing SM exposure and strengthening protective psychological factors. To address this gap, the proposed study aims to pilot BodyScreen, an intervention app designed to limit SM exposure while enhancing self-esteem and reducing perfectionism in young women at high risk for eating disorders. The study hypothesizes that BodyScreen will be feasible, acceptable, and effective in improving body image, self-esteem, and SM use, with sustained benefits at a 3-month follow-up. The intervention includes a virtual face-to-face session, mid-intervention email support, and a four-week app-based program using Ecological Momentary Interventions (EMIs). Participants will receive reminders to complete exercises designed to improve self-perception and reduce the negative effects of SM. Additionally, Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) will track real-time self-esteem, perfectionism, and body image, while mobile sensing will monitor SM use to tailor interactive exercises accordingly. By integrating exposure reduction with psychological strengthening, BodyScreen aims to provide a novel, evidence-based approach to mitigating the harmful effects of SM on young women's mental health.

The Body Project SMIL tests the effectiveness of a virtual, peer-led intervention aimed at reducing body dissatisfaction and preventing eating disorders in young women with psychiatric illnesses. Eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder have severe physical and mental health consequences. Young women with psychiatric disorders face a fourfold higher risk, yet no widely implemented prevention programs exist in Denmark. Body Project SMIL addresses this gap by testing whether a structured online intervention can prevent eating disorders before they develop. The study is open to women aged 15-25 with body dissatisfaction and a verified psychiatric diagnosis (e.g., mood disorders, anxiety, ADHD, or personality disorders). Those with a clinical eating disorder diagnosis are not eligible. Participants must be comfortable engaging in online group discussions. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: Body Project Group - A peer-led, virtual program with four one-hour sessions focusing on challenging beauty ideals through structured exercises. Expressive Writing Group - A self-guided exercise where participants write about body image for four weeks. Assessments take place before and after the intervention, with follow-ups at six months, one year, and two years tracking body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, and well-being. The Body Project is a proven intervention that reduces body dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalization, and eating disorder symptoms, with some studies showing a 77% reduction in eating disorder risk. While tested in various settings, this study is the first to evaluate its impact on young women with psychiatric illnesses. Participation benefits may include improved body image, reduced eating disorder risk, and enhanced self-esteem. The group format provides a supportive environment for sharing experiences and fostering healthier attitudes toward body image. Ethical approval has been granted, ensuring compliance with GDPR regulations. Since this is a preventive program, it does not replace clinical treatment. Participants showing signs of an active eating disorder will be referred for appropriate care. Recruitment occurs through psychiatric departments, educational institutions, and social media. A research website (www.bodyproject.dk) provides study details and a secure registration form. Parental consent is required for participants under 18, and all participants may withdraw at any time without consequences. Conducted by Aarhus University Hospital Psychiatry in collaboration with international experts, this research may inform scalable prevention programs for young people at risk of eating disorders.

The goal of thin randomized controlled trial is to investigate the efficacy of a prevention program for reducing the incidence of eating disorders among youth (15-20). We target youth at these ages who experience a subjective sense of body dissatisfaction, and are thus at increased risk of developing an eating disorder. The prevention program is based on improving protective factors such as body appreciation, body image flexibility, intuitive eating, and acceptance. It will be compared to a credible placebo (expressive writing).