An Intervention for Eating and Body Image Concerns Among Young Adult Women

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The primary aim of the current study is to assess acceptability and feasibility of online body image exposure and self-compassion interventions before conducting a larger RCT.

Detailed Description
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This study will determine the feasibility and effectiveness of delivering an online therapy for eating pathology and body image disturbance. It will address body image and eating pathology in a non-clinical group of young adult women, who are at risk of developing such problems . The feasibility study will determine whether there are any difficulties that would need to be addressed in recruitment, online delivery and assessment of those treatments.

Official Title
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Feasibility of Online Exposure Therapy and Self-compassion Interventions for Eating and Body Image Concerns Among Young Adult Women

Conditions
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Eating Disorder Symptom, Body Image Disturbance

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Body image exposure
* Behavioral: Self-compassion


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Body shape questionnaire score > 25 Age ≥18 Self-identified women Be able to use a computer and having an Internet connection and webcam Exclusion Criteria: Insufficient knowledge of English Learning disability, severe mental illness or alcohol/substance dependence, history of self-injuries, current eating disorder, current clinical depression Psychiatric illness requiring secondary care intervention Male Under 18 years old Body mass index below 18.5 Currently undergoing psychological therapies No access to a tablet or computer with an internet connection

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Body image exposure<br>Guided non-judgmental exposure, 40 minutes total | Behavioral: Body image exposure<br>* Exposure therapy is a key element of evidence-based cognitive behaviour therapy for eating disorders . Body image exposure intervention involves deliberate, planned, and systematic exposure to the body image. Participants will be asked to stand so that they can see their whole body - far enough back. Participants will be asked to look at their bodies on screen. Participants will be continually encouraged by the facilitator for looking at and talking about the body parts.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Self-compassion<br>8 Short self-compassion meditations, 40 minutes total | Behavioral: Self-compassion<br>* The self-compassion intervention condition consists of Neff's self-compassion exercises. These exercises are part of the self-compassion intervention condition. Meditation text used in this study is obtained from the following link https://self-compassion.org/category/exercises/.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of participants recruited | 30 participants | will measure upon study termination (estimated at 2-3 months) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The rate of completion | assessed by the percentage of participants who complete the study questionnaires | will measure upon study termination (estimated at 2-3 months) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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eating pathology, body image, exposure, self-compassion