Body Project
Problems addressed
Internalizing behaviors/problems
Effectiveness

Effective

.

.

.

.

.

Effective

Want to know more about this classification? Check out our methodological manual.

Life periods served
Children (4 to 13 years)
Teenagers (14 to 17 years)
Where the program was applied
Education establishment
Ambulatory - Health service centers
Country of application
United States
Description

This is a prevention program for body acceptance among female students in high school or university. The aim is to reduce dangerous dieting behaviors, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorders.
The program seeks to deconstruct socially imposed standards of thinness and avoid the incessant search for an unrealistic appearance through four weekly voluntary meetings with discussions, roleplay activities, and behavioral training for desensitization and self-acceptance.

Impact evaluations

Impact evaluation studies have shown that program participants had significantly greater reductions in risk factors for eating disorders and bulimic symptoms, although these effects disappeared during the 6- and 12-month follow-up periods [1].
There was also a reduction in the internalization of the ideal of thinness, body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, psychosocial impairment, and a lower risk of the onset of eating disorders over a two- to three-year follow-up period [2].
Another study showed that after three years of follow-up, there was a 61% reduction in the risk of eating disorders and a 55% reduction in the risk of obesity among program participants compared to the control group, implying that the effects are clinically important and long-lasting [3].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Stice, E., Shaw, H., Burton, E. & Wade, E. (2006). Dissonance and healthy weight eating disorder prevention programs: A randomized efficacy trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(2), 263–275. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.74.2.263

[2] Stice, E., Trost, A., & Chase, A. (2003). Healthy weight control and dissonance-based eating disorder prevention programs: Results from a controlled trial. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 33, 10-21.
https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.10109

[3] Stice, E., Marti, C., Spoor, S., Presnell, K., & Shaw, H. (2008). Dissonance and healthy weight eating disorder prevention programs: Long-term effects from a randomized efficacy trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(2), 329-340. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.76.2.329

Information source