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Clinical Trial
. 2021 Mar:36:269-275.
doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.01.001. Epub 2021 Jan 21.

Tailoring a dissonance-based body image intervention for adult women in a proof of concept trial: The Women's Body Initiative

C L Verzijl  1 , J Duan  2 , S A Wilfred  3 , C B Becker  4 , L S Kilpela  5
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Tailoring a dissonance-based body image intervention for adult women in a proof of concept trial: The Women's Body Initiative

C L Verzijl et al. Body Image. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Although historically conceptualized as problems of youth, recent research indicates that women of all ages experience body dissatisfaction and eating disorder (ED) pathology. Despite this, existing body image interventions predominantly target youth. The Body Project (BP) has extensive support for reducing ED risk factors in younger women and girls. The current proof-of-concept study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and estimates of intervention effect sizes of a modified BP for adult women, the Women's Body Initiative (WBI). Conducted in the Southwestern United States, adult women (N = 13) aged 29-70 (M = 49.1) participated in 4, 1-h weekly sessions, completing measures at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Participants rated the program as highly feasible and acceptable. Within-subjects effects sizes were medium to large for primary outcomes (body dissatisfaction, ED pathology) and secondary outcomes (psychosocial impairment, negative affect, quality of life, nutritious food consumption, and sleep) through 3-months. Results suggest preliminary feasibility and acceptability of WBI for adult women, and support proceeding with a larger trial to investigate intervention efficacy.

Keywords: Body image; Intervention; Women’s health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest Dr. Becker is Co-Director of the Body Project Collaborative, which was created in 2012 to support dissemination and implementation of the Body Project. Dr. Kilpela serves as a trainer for the Body Project Collaborative.

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