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Abstract
Objectives: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a life-threatening mental health condition. A core feature is a disturbance of body image, such that sufferers see themselves as fatter than they actually are.
Design: We tested the effectiveness of a novel training program to recalibrate our participants' perception of body size.
Methods: In a novel adaptation of a cognitive bias training program, participants judged the body size of a series of female bodies and were given feedback to improve their accuracy over 4 daily training sessions. In Study 1, we recruited young women with high concerns about their body size for a randomised controlled study. In Study 2, we then applied the training program to a case series of women with atypical AN.
Results: In Study 1, the training program significantly improved the body size judgements of women with high body concerns compared to controls. We also found evidence of improved body image and reduced eating concerns in this group. In Study 2, the program again recalibrated the body size judgements of women with atypical AN. We also saw evidence of a clinically meaningful reduction in their body size and eating disordered concerns.
Conclusions: This training has the potential to be a valuable treatment used together with more traditional talking therapies.
Design: We tested the effectiveness of a novel training program to recalibrate our participants' perception of body size.
Methods: In a novel adaptation of a cognitive bias training program, participants judged the body size of a series of female bodies and were given feedback to improve their accuracy over 4 daily training sessions. In Study 1, we recruited young women with high concerns about their body size for a randomised controlled study. In Study 2, we then applied the training program to a case series of women with atypical AN.
Results: In Study 1, the training program significantly improved the body size judgements of women with high body concerns compared to controls. We also found evidence of improved body image and reduced eating concerns in this group. In Study 2, the program again recalibrated the body size judgements of women with atypical AN. We also saw evidence of a clinically meaningful reduction in their body size and eating disordered concerns.
Conclusions: This training has the potential to be a valuable treatment used together with more traditional talking therapies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 60–76 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | British Journal of Health Psychology |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 3 Nov 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2017 |
Research Groups and Themes
- Brain and Behaviour
- Cognitive Science
- Social Cognition
- Tobacco and Alcohol
- TARG
Keywords
- Body Size Training
- Body Size judgements
- Anorexia Nervosa Syndrome Disorder
- Anorexia Nervosa
Access to Document
- Full-text PDF (final published version)
This is the final published version of the article (version of record). It first appeared online via Wiley at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjhp.12217/abstract. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
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Full-text PDF (accepted author manuscript)
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Licence: CC BY-NC
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Dive into the research topics of 'An interactive training programme to treat body image disturbance'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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MRC UoB UNITE Unit - Programme 6
Munafo, M. R. (Principal Investigator) & Munafo, M. R. (Principal Investigator)
1/06/13 → 31/03/18
Project: Research
Profiles
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Professor Ian S Penton-Voak
- School of Psychological Science - Professor of Evolutionary Psychology
- Bristol Population Health Science Institute
- Bristol Neuroscience
Person: Academic , Member