## 4 Discussion  
This single case study suggests that ABMT integrated into VR-based MET may be a promising adjunct to standard evidence-based treatment for AN. The incorporation of ABMT successfully targeted AB associated with AN. Before treatment, the patient exhibited an AB towards non-weight-related body parts, aligning with studies indicating avoidance of unsatisfactory or unattractive self-body parts in AN patients [13] and women with high body dissatisfaction in the general population [52]. After treatment, the patient exhibited a balanced attentional focus between weight-related and non-weight-related body parts, indicating a reduction in the AB for both complete fixation time and number of fixations. These findings are in line with another study [24], which also demonstrated a successful reduction in AB towards the body parts following ABMT intervention in AN patients, leading to a more balanced attention pattern towards the body. Following treatment, the patient notably reduced fear of weight gain and anxiety, successfully navigating the BMI hierarchy. The observed decrease in these AN symptoms aligns with previous studies emphasizing the beneficial effects of imaginal exposure therapy [7] and MET [6] on fear of weight gain and anxiety in AN patients. These outcomes correspond with habituation principles: exposure to changing body images likely aided \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline
**Measures** & **Pre-Assessment** & **Post-Assessment** & **Follow-Up** \\  & **Time** & **Time** & **Time** \\ \hline EDI-Body dissatisfaction & 28 & 14 * & 5 * \\ EDI-Drive for thinness & 20 & 3 * & 0 * \\ PASTAS-Weight-related body parts anxiety & 19 & 5 * & 0 * \\ BCQ-Body-checking behaviours & 82 & 46 * & 26 * \\ BAS-Body appreciation & 33 & 48 * & 63 * \\ CFT-Attentional bias & \(-\)13,333 & \(-\)899 & \(-\)6992 \\ NF-Attentional bias & \(-\)27 & \(-\)5 & \(-\)35 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} Note: Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-3), Physical Appearance State and Trait Anxiety Scale (PASTAS), complete fixation time (CFT), number of fixations (NF). * Significant Reliable Change Index (RCI): if the RCI is 1.96 or greater, the difference is statistically significant.  
\end{table} 
Table 3: Pre-treatment, post-treatment, and follow-up assessment scores from the administered questionnaires, and attentional bias measures. the patient in adapting to evolving perceptions, lessening fear of weight gain. The combined AB reduction and systematic VR exposure addressed traditional MET limitations. The patient's ability to redirect attention to the entire body may have accelerated anxiety and fear reduction related to perceived weight changes. Consequently, anxiety towards weight-related body parts significantly diminished post-treatment. These findings align with previous research emphasizing the anxiety-reducing effects of exposure therapies, particularly in VR contexts [53]. The patient demonstrated a reduction in both body dissatisfaction and thinness drive after treatment. This observed improvement aligns with findings from a study examining the effects of ABMT alone on patients with AN, which have demonstrated reductions in body dissatisfaction [24]. Prior research has established a connection between AB and body dissatisfaction in individuals with AN and women with elevated levels of body dissatisfaction [24,54]. Moreover, these results align with findings from studies using exposure-based interventions, such as MET, which have been successful in reducing body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness [3, 4, 5]. This highlights the comprehensive impact of the integrated approach on enhancing body image perceptions. The study revealed a significant reduction in body-checking behaviors, a common feature among individuals with AN. The inclusion of AB modification in the treatment likely contributed to balancing attentional focus, reducing fixation on specific body parts, and consequently mitigating body-checking tendencies.